A week ago, I took Ed to the airport. The next day he set sail, from Maine to Delaware. Two weeks ago I had no idea that I would be moving and that indeed, I would, in two weeks, be in a completely new home. I told Ed yesterday that I have been insanely busy. I could almost see him shake his head over the phone line as he retorted -- who decides to move, packs up and then does move in such a short period of time? I have tried to explain, to many friends, to family why I felt this was the right thing to do. I get that it's a tough one to fathom. I guess I could throw out a couple of reasons here, on Ocean: because I was absolutely sure that not a whole lot would change if I stayed and waited for a different outcome. There's never any reason for Ed to change his mind on a matter where he has a strong opinion. Well, now I've given him a reason. No it's not blackmail! I simply think that we have come to a point where it is obvious (at least to me) that there is a very significant difference in the way we approach these last decades (years? months? weeks?) of our life. If we are not on the same page on this, then I should not be living at the farmhouse.
So today I wake up at the farmhouse, but this Gorgeous will go to sleep at the Edge. And my Once Occasional Travel Companion, who evolved into a beloved partner in life, will go to sleep at the farmhouse.
But unless I've pissed him off completely, it is by no means the end of a relationship. I hope we will always be beloved partners to each other. However, work is now required to make it as good as it was just a short time ago. (And yes, you perceptive souls, the nagging issues have been percolating for a while. I did not suddenly invent this problem. Up to now, I simply ignored it.)
I'll try not to make this post a noting of all the lasts. Like, for example -- my last walk to the barn to feed the animals...
And in fact, I may well eat breakfast on the porch again. So perhaps not the last...
My task for today is to do a walk through the farmhouse and open every cabinet and drawer to make sure all that I left behind should be left behind. Next job -- to unpack some more, and to make up a place to sleep at the Edge, and finally -- to install the second newly arrived TV. Let's just say I was more successful with some than I was with others.
And indeed, instead of concentrating on getting through my list, I added to it! I read on Facebook (cursed Facebook...) that Kopke's Greenhouse -- my source of annuals in spring -- has just received a small batch of frost friendly pansies. Limited supply! Wouldn't it be nice to see some flowers on my balcony? I pick some out and while I'm there, I add a tub of fall flowers, which of course have to include mums.
I'm not a great fan of the seasonal mums that burst forth in color and tempt everyone to pick up a pot or two or three. They have two things going against them: they are annuals, so once they fade, they're done and you might as well toss them. But unlike annuals that bloom all summer long, these guys have a life span of about two or three weeks! Still, if you want to put color on your balcony right now, this is the way to do it. Besides, I think the gardener there put together rather pretty combinations and since they are about to shut down for the year, they sold me the pots at a very great discount.
(this is one of them)
At the Edge, I have a lot to lug up once again. For some reason I had completely forgotten to pack all the baking pans. A whole cabinet of them! How could that happen? Oh, that's right -- I ran out of boxes. But you know, this is the end of it. I think I'm officially done moving.
So... did I unpack? Yes, but not a whole lot. I got stuck with the TV installation once again. This time the set was just fine, but the cable service (which I purchased only because I do not want to fuss with an antenna) -- the installation of it completely threw me down a rabbit hole of questions and instructions that would probably be clear as day to anyone with some knowledge of all TV functions but if you just want your PBS and an occasional Amazon show and you're 72 years old -- forget it! I called a rep who could not believe my cable box did not have a magic reset button and after many minutes of back and forth (I'm not blind, just stupid as to cable, which I have never subscribed to... ever!), she finally agreed to send out a rep come Monday. Remember the days when you could just plug in a new TV??
I then set about to make my new bed. The mattress came with a package of (awful feeling) white linens, and I had washed these a few days back, in the ancient but very easy to operate Ed washing machine. But somehow I lost a pillow case in the process. How did that happen? I do not know. Do I have others? Yes, but they are in a box that clearly I did not mark as containing "pillowcases." Trivial problems. I will sleep on a new bed in a new home. Now, what are the chances of this being a good night for me? You guessed it! You are so wise...
In light of that, I finally sat down to lunch (granola bar and coffee) at 4:30. Who drinks coffee at 4:30 and expects to sleep well? Oh, who cares. I wanted my usual feel of comfort that a milky coffee brings me.
In the evening I return to the farmhouse. Ed's farmhouse. I put the hens away, feed the cats, and make a supper of our hens' eggs, Ed's hens now, along with a salad, and I wait for his flight to come in so that I can drive him home. His home.
with so much love...
