On Moving and Moving On

I spoke too soon when I said that I almost mastered the art of moving. There’s no art in moving unless we sort our belongings according to colors or sizes, which no one, not even I in my OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) state, will ever do anyway. And we usually pack our stuff according to function, purpose, or area where they would be used, right?

And I thought I know a lot about moving. I was so wrong. No one is ever prepared for packing, loading, moving, unloading, and organizing things again. It is very stressful given the fact that we also had to transfer to the new house the other stuff from the garage, living room, dining room and the kitchen which we share with other occupants. Fatigue and exposure to dust got the better of Fred and me. After the transfer, I had severe cough and body pains and had to phone in sick from work for a day.

Although moving, like most forms of change, can bring out the best and worst in people, I’m glad I’ve seen moments and gestures worthy of remembering. And I would like to thank those friends who gave their time and energy to help us.

Those friends who exerted effort although they’re already too tired from work or got late from their weekend schedule of online chats with loved ones in the Philippines.

Those friends who tirelessly cleaned the new house.

That friend who didn’t mind his tonsillitis and dust allergy at that time to help us clean the old and the new house.

That couple who dropped by and brought a big casserole of hot Macaroni Soup.

Fred’s employer who lent their delivery truck and their driver who drove it and waited patiently for us to finish loading and unloading.

If there is really an art in moving, these friends just gave color to it.

And the night before we finally returned that house to its owner, we dropped by to do and get some things. Fred and I both instantly felt we would be missing that house for a long time! Although now void of pieces of furniture and accessories, it still boasts of airiness, coziness and that unexplainable homey feel. I guess, there are just houses that make you feel you’re always home, and there are houses that are just like that, houses.

I love that house and if I could only ask the owner to live somewhere else and let us continue our stay there, I would. Ridiculous thing to do, I know. So I didn't. Anyway, for the love of that house, I took shots of some of its parts just so I will remember how it looks like someday.

The owner must love paintings so much that he has a number of them around the house. And he has great taste!

I’m glad we’re finally done and over with moving. Now, it's time to shake the dust off our feet and move on.