Settling in

Today is Sunday, I've been here in this little house for 3 weeks, sleeping, but not settled yet.
I was so lucky to get the little cottage. It's set back from a busy street, but has lots of foliage and 2 large redwood trees in front. They are such a gift, when I look outside, I can almost visualize I'm in the forest. (if I don't listen to the traffic going by!) But my mission is to stay as positive as it is possible to be.
It was built in 1932, with all the charm the people in those days could put in a house. It has some high ceilings, some 9', and the molding has curved edges in the kitchen which imparts a lot charm. The kitchen has lots of old cupboards, and after stripping off the glued down paper, I found one shelf that has like chicken wire built into the shelves and goes down to the basement, where the cool air radiates up from. I was so tickled to find the original shelves in place, where folks would put their eggs and milk and they would be kept cold. I love those touches.
The upstairs is basically a loft with little nooks and crannies, low slanted ceilings and lots of little closets which would delight Alice in her wonderland.
So though I lost an awesome 4000 square foot house, I have lots to be grateful for here. It's only 1000 square feet, so putting my stuff in here is a challenge, but I have downsized alot! I gave away a sofa, sold one, and loaned one to a friend.
And that is all the point, that people have been awesome! I put my challenges out there and so many have stepped up to help! Sixteen people with 5-6 trucks came to help me move! One guy said, oh, I can only stay an hour, and I said, I so appreciate that you came at all! And he stayed til the end, over 5 hours later.
Wow.
I put myself, my pride out there, and people stepped up!
Thanks again everyone! Susan, Carol and her kids, Denise, Greg and Kali, Rick, Greg and Deb, Debbie, Vera, Joy, Kerry, Chris, John, so many people. Moved, made food, took things, bought things and gave me moral support.
Life is good. We will all be ok.
Tim gave me some history of the house, his grandparents built it in 1932. And the "kids" Thelma, Millie and Vernon lived in the nook upstairs.2 bedrooms and one bath. Today, we have 4 bedrooms for 2 people! Grandma later had renters stay with her. I understand "Uncle Harvey" wanders around upstairs. I haven't met Uncle Harvey yet, but hopefully he will like me and we'll get along! I hope so!
Anyway, we can make it all work, we need to reach out and let those who are going through this that they're not alone. Grow your gardens and give out roses, and peaches and zucchini, give us/them your love.
We will survive!

Lessons on moving - lessons from the heart.

I have been moving my stuff out of my house for a week now. I've been packing for weeks before. Doing all the usual things, transferring power, tv, all that stuff.
And packing up memories.
I'm a very sentimental person. Things mean alot to me. But mostly in the context of where I've gotten things, and who has given them to me. My favorite things are those that I've inherited or were given to me by my mom and dad, and some by my old boyfriends. They represent the love that a person gives with the gift. So when I'm packing up my goodies, I think of those people and how I loved them, and the feelings I had getting them, and looking at them and feeling that love again.
For that reason, the stuff I have is hard to let go of. If the person is gone, I think I love the things to make up for my loss of them.
So packing and selling things are bittersweet. My mom got me started on collecting purses, I love little beaded ones, or silver mesh. A lot of them are 100 years old, and I think of the young women who had them before, felt the cool beads in their hands, looked at the pretty sparkles and loved them too. They took them on "dates" or special occassions.
I believe in using the wonderful old things I have and enjoying them, not just keeping them for display.
But things don't take the place of people, themselves. I love people. I love my family, my friends and my neighbors.
I loved my old house and wouldn't have given it up without a fight. But I did and I have. I've left it, and except for one more sale and a couple days of cleanup, I'm gone.
Hopefully someone else will love it too.
Life goes on.
But the real value I've gotten out of my house was the wonderful people who showed up to help me move. The house is just a house. But when I put the word out that I needed help, I've gotten so much help, and love and concern and caring.
That's what it's all about.
I am so happy about knowing that. The people who counted did show up. Susan, who came every day, my daughter who came to help, Connie who brought me a burrito, Brenda who made a casserole. Julie, who brought me boxes and packing. Joette, who showed up today with boxes.The men, who heaved and grunted under my heavy things were awesome!
My friend John who gave me a house to stay in.
You are all so wonderful and make me feel cared for.
I opened myself up and let it be known that I needed help, and you showed up.
Thank you so much from my heart.
I love you all!
So a single woman is not always alone in the world. It's hard to ask for help sometimes, my pride gets in the way. But I knew I couldn't have done it alone. I wouldn't have been able to. It was truly a miracle to see who came and what happened when it did. I opened myself to the universe and the universe gave it back to me.
I am blessed.