Month: June 2018

Water, Water Everywhere

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Water is everywhere, obviously. But did you ever REALLY think about it? I’ve been wandering around my new neighborhood and I am suddenly keenly aware that I love water.

The first morning I took my dog on a walk in the new neighborhood, I walked past a creek. As you know, I’m familiar with water around my neighborhoods but this time was different. This creek wasn’t just a creek, it was a babbling brook. There were flat rocks under the stream and so the sound was alive. It wasn’t rushing water but a much more pleasant sound. That sound soothes me.

As I continued on, there was that sound again. But this time there was no creek, no brook, no stream. There was simply a water feature in someone’s backyard. Again, it was a pleasant surprise. I very much like that sound.

That being said, I love water in it’s other forms too. In high school, I converted from soda drinking to water. I didn’t do it for the health benefits but rather because I hated feeling bloated all the time. It was a positive that I wasn’t burping all the time too.

The ocean is my biggest water love of all. The sound of the waves crashing on the beach; the smell of the salty air all combines to make a wonderful sensory experience. I never get enough of it but I crave it all the time. When we first arrived in Europe, my spouse had to go to The Hague for a work trip. The kids and I drove out there at the end and spent a few days at the oceanside. It was September in the northern part of the country and I insisted on getting my feet wet in the ocean. The kids laughed and thought I was crazy but it needed to be done.

I love cruising for that reason too. I enjoy visiting many countries and their beaches. And on the way, I’m on the sea. That’s one time that I fear the water. The ocean is beautiful on shore but scares me a little bit out in the wide space. There are creatures out there that can kill you. I know, I know. There are also dolphins and cute, little sea creatures but those don’t concern me. I don’t want to be like Louis Zamperini and be lost at sea for days on end. That holds NO appeal for me.

And it’s funny that only certain kinds of water make you have to go to the bathroom. That’s another type of water I don’t like. I don’t want overflowing rivers that can sweep you away nor torrential downpours that pelt you. I want controlled water. And my babbling brook will help keep me enjoying my morning walks with the dog. That’s water you can celebrate.

 

Pack, Unpack, Repeat: It’s Moving Time!

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My life lately has been about boxes. I pack them, I unpack them and then I do it again. And why am I doing this? Because I’m moving, silly people!

This time is more like the moving of my childhood. When I was younger, my mom, brother and I were always moving from one apartment to another. It seemed like every few years my mom would call upon friends and family to help us load everything into cars and trucks and transfer all our goodies to a new place. Mind you, we didn’t go far. We always lived in the same town, just different apartments.

It would be a weekend long endeavor. I don’t recall helping much but maybe I did. Knowing me, I probably entertained everyone by singing the whole time.

Now as an adult married to the military, I have movers that come and take care of this task for me. And not just movers. There are PACKERS too! That’s right. You heard me. We have people that come a day or two before the truck and they pack everything in boxes. And I mean EVERYTHING.

We’ve heard the stories of packers packing garbage and dirty laundry. They aren’t just tall tales; they actually happened. I’ve never had anything as awful as that but they once packed my daughter’s library books. They were too quick and I didn’t set them aside. Fortunately for me, the library was understanding and I was able to mail them back once we received our goods on the other end. Not only that, but I learned a valuable lesson: clearly mark what isn’t going!

In addition to the packers, there are movers who come and haul your furniture and boxes into the moving truck. They disassemble your furniture and reassemble it when it arrives. You can also have them unpack your boxes too! There’s a lot of complaining we do about the military but this is one perk I enjoy.

But now, I am responsible for all of it. Obviously not me by myself but you get the picture. My spouse and I did a great job in the beginning. We closed on Friday morning and started moving right away. It was easy to take everything from the garage and lower level to the new townhome. It got rough when we started on the second level and had to bring it up to the second level. All those stairs get tiring!

My youngest daughter joined us on day two. in the afternoon. She was a great help but it was hot and muggy and those stairs didn’t help anything. I’m definitely feeling my age. As the day wore on, we slowed down.

I always felt bad for our movers since we always move in the summer but this year I feel a special kinship with them. I’m not taking them for granted anymore. And for the record, if we have to move ourselves again, I’m hiring professionals for the whole thing.