It's a very lonely thing to empty out a house of 67 years of living. I did really well the first few days, as some things were just easy to dispose of. However, as the days go by, it's getting harder and harder........so many beautiful things to think about. I haven't even made it to the pictures yet! I'm not looking forward to that. Actually, I'm thinking I might not even go through them, until after I move. I'll just move them all in their boxes.
The good news is, it's much easier to close up a house when the parents are still living. It's got to be so much harder if you are mourning someone, and then trying to make all of these decisions!
I can't wait to go to CT to start condo looking! I'm excited about my new life!
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Joe's incredibly generous offer!
I'm overwhelmed with Joe's generous offer to buy a condo for me in CT. I'm speechless and very, very thankful! Thanks Joe!!!
I'll be going down to CT next Thursday to start looking with Mike and Liz, since I don't know my way around that part of the state, and WE ALL KNOW, how easily I get lost!!!
THANKS JOE! YOU'RE A LIFE SAVER!!! I promise to be a good tenant!!!
I'll be going down to CT next Thursday to start looking with Mike and Liz, since I don't know my way around that part of the state, and WE ALL KNOW, how easily I get lost!!!
THANKS JOE! YOU'RE A LIFE SAVER!!! I promise to be a good tenant!!!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Successful move
Well, Grampa had a smooth move into Hebert's on Sunday. Thanks Mike, for coming up and spending 11 hours moving stuff.....plus driving over four hours to do it! (Got your trailer unloaded yet? hehehehehe! Maybe it would be easier if you just turned it into a shed now!)
Grampa seemed relieved to be on his way. The stress and worry left his face, and he looked pretty relaxed, although he did admit to us that he was a little bit nervous. We told him that was normal, which it is.
While Mike, Doug and I got the furniture settled, Nana and Grampa were off starting their third honeymoon someplace! Grampa told me yesterday that they spent five hours holding hands on Sunday afternoon. That's so odd for me to think about, because Nana and Grampa were never hand holders. That just started when Nana went into Epoch 20 months ago. The only time I ever remember seeing them hold hands was, going up stairs together, or on icy sidewalks. Oh well.....
So now my head is starting to spin with all the work I have ahead of me. Believe it or not, we actually now have the house half empty. Not that Grampa took THAT much stuff......but I've been throwing away all the old, un-useable stuff. The trash man is not going to like me tomorrow! Maybe I should put out a six pack of ice tea for him? Very, very cold ice tea!
My goal this week is to dispose of as much as I can, and straighten up the house. I've already had a few neighbors in to look at the dining room set, the couches, etc. Last night, our friends Sheila and Russ stopped over to ask about Grampa, and I think their daughter and son-in-law might buy the dining room set, the piano and the corner curio cabinet! We'll see. They are moving back up here from North Carolina and are leaving behind some old furniture and plan to buy some when they get here. Sounds like a possible deal to me!
Well, I'll keep you all up to date on things. Meanwhile.....Happy Belated 2nd Anniversary to Liz and MIke!
Grampa seemed relieved to be on his way. The stress and worry left his face, and he looked pretty relaxed, although he did admit to us that he was a little bit nervous. We told him that was normal, which it is.
While Mike, Doug and I got the furniture settled, Nana and Grampa were off starting their third honeymoon someplace! Grampa told me yesterday that they spent five hours holding hands on Sunday afternoon. That's so odd for me to think about, because Nana and Grampa were never hand holders. That just started when Nana went into Epoch 20 months ago. The only time I ever remember seeing them hold hands was, going up stairs together, or on icy sidewalks. Oh well.....
So now my head is starting to spin with all the work I have ahead of me. Believe it or not, we actually now have the house half empty. Not that Grampa took THAT much stuff......but I've been throwing away all the old, un-useable stuff. The trash man is not going to like me tomorrow! Maybe I should put out a six pack of ice tea for him? Very, very cold ice tea!
My goal this week is to dispose of as much as I can, and straighten up the house. I've already had a few neighbors in to look at the dining room set, the couches, etc. Last night, our friends Sheila and Russ stopped over to ask about Grampa, and I think their daughter and son-in-law might buy the dining room set, the piano and the corner curio cabinet! We'll see. They are moving back up here from North Carolina and are leaving behind some old furniture and plan to buy some when they get here. Sounds like a possible deal to me!
Well, I'll keep you all up to date on things. Meanwhile.....Happy Belated 2nd Anniversary to Liz and MIke!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Big day tomorrow, for everyone here.
Well, tomorrow will be a big day in our lives. Tomorrow Grampa moves into a nursing home, to be with Nana. It's what he wants to do, and although he's a little scared, he says it's the right thing for him. Mike is coming up with his trailer, to help move the furniture. He, and Doug will do it, and I hope that they both will come out of the deal intact, with no hurt backs! Fortunately, there's not a lot of furniture going, but we all know.....sometimes it's just moving the wrong way that can hurt. Having Mike here will also allow me to get three or four pieces of furniture out of my storage, and cancel that for good!
It will be the beginning of a new phase in my life. I'm excited to get on with my own life now! Of course, as usual, I don't have a good plan yet.....but I have some ideas. The hardest part will be seeing Nana and Grampa only once in a while, after being with them daily for a couple of years. I'll definitely have to keep the word "abandoning" out of my mind. My plan had been to be with them until their died, but that's not going to happen. I feel like a runner who did well in the race, but quit just before the finish line! I'll be about a two hour drive away, and Doug will be an hour's drive if there's an emergency. Well, I should say, WHEN.....not IF.
The hard core, serious packing will not start here until Monday, out of respect for Grampa. He's having a hard enough time now, I don't want to make it any harder for him. Let's put it this way, he had tears in his eyes when he said good bye to the mailman! Of course, granted.....the guy has always been super nice to Dad and they've spent a lot of time joking about baseball....but still.......who cries saying good bye to a mailman?
So wish us luck. It'll be a difficult couple of days up here.
It will be the beginning of a new phase in my life. I'm excited to get on with my own life now! Of course, as usual, I don't have a good plan yet.....but I have some ideas. The hardest part will be seeing Nana and Grampa only once in a while, after being with them daily for a couple of years. I'll definitely have to keep the word "abandoning" out of my mind. My plan had been to be with them until their died, but that's not going to happen. I feel like a runner who did well in the race, but quit just before the finish line! I'll be about a two hour drive away, and Doug will be an hour's drive if there's an emergency. Well, I should say, WHEN.....not IF.
The hard core, serious packing will not start here until Monday, out of respect for Grampa. He's having a hard enough time now, I don't want to make it any harder for him. Let's put it this way, he had tears in his eyes when he said good bye to the mailman! Of course, granted.....the guy has always been super nice to Dad and they've spent a lot of time joking about baseball....but still.......who cries saying good bye to a mailman?
So wish us luck. It'll be a difficult couple of days up here.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Grampa's moving
Hi Everyone.....well, here's what's new in the planning stage. Grampa, Doug and I went over to Hebert's again, to look at the room. Doug had not seen it. It's a great room, and we're all in agreement about that. At this point, unless something changes.....we are all set to move him into Hebert's in ten days, or on the weekend of August 24th.
Here's the rest of the plan......so far. I'll be able to collect unemployment, while I'm job hunting for another job, as I've worked enough quarters to do that. Grampa is going to pay all of the house bills for as long as I want to live in the house. I can live in the house until he runs out of money, and at that point may have to sell the house. The estimated time of that happening, would be in eight months. Meanwhile, I will be selling some things, throwing out the old useless stuff (like the three dozen worn out sheets for twin beds.....probably 30 years old!) and giving some things away. We pretty much have Grampa's list of what furniture/clothing/possessions he wants to bring with him. He told Nana this afternoon, and she was thrilled! She did want to double-check to make sure that's what he WANTED to do......so, even in her non-memory state, she's still trying to do the best thing for him.
So, I'm relieved that I don't have to like move out and find a job in the next two weeks!!! Phew. The news is all pretty much good today. Grampa seems pleased with his final decision. Of course, I think he's also thinking in that little head of his, "well, if I don't like it...I can move back....". Doug and I have both told him that that won't work, but that's when I thought I was going to have to move out asap, and find an apartment/job. The fact that he's willing to pay the house expenses buys him some time.
Here's the rest of the plan......so far. I'll be able to collect unemployment, while I'm job hunting for another job, as I've worked enough quarters to do that. Grampa is going to pay all of the house bills for as long as I want to live in the house. I can live in the house until he runs out of money, and at that point may have to sell the house. The estimated time of that happening, would be in eight months. Meanwhile, I will be selling some things, throwing out the old useless stuff (like the three dozen worn out sheets for twin beds.....probably 30 years old!) and giving some things away. We pretty much have Grampa's list of what furniture/clothing/possessions he wants to bring with him. He told Nana this afternoon, and she was thrilled! She did want to double-check to make sure that's what he WANTED to do......so, even in her non-memory state, she's still trying to do the best thing for him.
So, I'm relieved that I don't have to like move out and find a job in the next two weeks!!! Phew. The news is all pretty much good today. Grampa seems pleased with his final decision. Of course, I think he's also thinking in that little head of his, "well, if I don't like it...I can move back....". Doug and I have both told him that that won't work, but that's when I thought I was going to have to move out asap, and find an apartment/job. The fact that he's willing to pay the house expenses buys him some time.
Working
Hi Everyone. sorry I've fallen behind in my e-mails. I've been working for Doug this week, to help him straighten up the place after having 800 customers run through last Sunday! I will be working Saturday and Sunday, if any of you were planning on visiting me. Sorry. Carry on, troops!
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Progress
Hi Everyone, Well....we made progress in the "move-not-move" drama today. Doug and I sat down with Grampa and talked about it. Just when I think Grampa has definitely decided to do it, he turns to me and asks what I think, which makes me feel like he's not sure. I know it's a big.......scratch that.....HUGE move for him. Having been a pack rat his entire life, I suppose even the thought of giving away his possessions is hard for him. He had a dose of reality today, when he invited two stamp dealers over to hopefully sell his collection. Grampa has a way of thinking that everything that you hold onto for years, appreciates in value. Well, I guess for years he's been thinking his stamp collection was super valuable! They offered him $140 for all the books and loose stamps in boxes. He was furious, to put it mildly! He said he's rather BURN them, than sell them to THOSE THIEVES! So, anyone want a stamp collection? Seriously........anyone?
Other than that, I continue to thin out all the things that are just not worthy of being passed down through the generations. It looks like I might stay in the house for a few months, once Grampa moves into Hebert's. That move could possibly take place as soon as Hebert's tells us they have a double room, so Nana and Grampa can be together. On the other hand, it might be months before there's an opening. It'll take a while to empty the house. For the past two days, we've had one of the neighbors (a retired painter) painting the trim on the house. Boy, it looks super!!! Grampa told me the trim has never been painted here, so that means 16 years of no fresh paint! It's so white now, it's glowing!!!
Mike and Liz are going to be coming up sometime in the next month or so, to pick up my fouton, and some dishes, pots and pans, etc. I'll be sending some glass to Maureen for her collection, and some smaller things out to you Kate. If anyone has any special requests let me know.
There's a very good chance, after Grampa moves, that I will be trying to figure out how to move back to CT. I haven't made that decision yet. After having cared for both of my parents for the past two years.....CT is dangerously far away from them, if they needed me. I suspect I'd be a nervous wreck. It would cost me too much to live here alone, until they are both gone. I don't want to pay for all that oil this winter to keep this huge house warm!!!
As always......I will keep everyone posted.
Other than that, I continue to thin out all the things that are just not worthy of being passed down through the generations. It looks like I might stay in the house for a few months, once Grampa moves into Hebert's. That move could possibly take place as soon as Hebert's tells us they have a double room, so Nana and Grampa can be together. On the other hand, it might be months before there's an opening. It'll take a while to empty the house. For the past two days, we've had one of the neighbors (a retired painter) painting the trim on the house. Boy, it looks super!!! Grampa told me the trim has never been painted here, so that means 16 years of no fresh paint! It's so white now, it's glowing!!!
Mike and Liz are going to be coming up sometime in the next month or so, to pick up my fouton, and some dishes, pots and pans, etc. I'll be sending some glass to Maureen for her collection, and some smaller things out to you Kate. If anyone has any special requests let me know.
There's a very good chance, after Grampa moves, that I will be trying to figure out how to move back to CT. I haven't made that decision yet. After having cared for both of my parents for the past two years.....CT is dangerously far away from them, if they needed me. I suspect I'd be a nervous wreck. It would cost me too much to live here alone, until they are both gone. I don't want to pay for all that oil this winter to keep this huge house warm!!!
As always......I will keep everyone posted.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Evil.....
O.K. who's the evil one who introduced me to Facebook? Maureen????? You're sooooooooo busted!!!!
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