Moved - Beyond Words
Well, it's done! I'm moved. We're in a kind of limbo since we don't move into the new place til September. Despite the fact that I spent the last 6 weeks working on the empyting and packing up of it, at the end, they couldn't even fit my kitchen garbage pail in the truck for lack of space!. For the past 10 days we have been living on the east side - in a wonderful place lent to us by friends - and now I'm in Connecticut waiting for the notification of when we can move into the new place on the west side of Manhattan.
Re: the trauma of moving: I have never, ever worked as hard, physically, as I did on that job 9 days ago. We started at 6 am and finished at 8:30 pm - four floors and the detritus and collections of 8 years. When it was done, we checked into a nice hotel and drank Margaritas. Even with the tequila coursing its way though our traumatized systems, we were so overtired that we couldn't sleep. For the next two days, I sat around like some stunned animal - just staring and napping. I read somewhere, once, that you can never make up for "lost" sleep. Well, I worked on it with great vigor - let me tell you - and I think I've managed to do a little catch up.
I will miss my old home - mightily but it was time. I will not miss being responsible for the maintenance of a 160 year old house in the middle of NYC. I will not miss having to figure out ways to outwit the Sanitation department, deal with a nasty neightbor and hearing my electrician say, "Gee, the old timers talk about stuff like this, but I never thought I'd actually see anything like it."
I will miss leaving the back door open to the deck and hearing gulls circling the east river and watching cardinals get ready for spring in my backyard. . I will miss the grace of a staircase that wound itself sensuously through 4 floors. I will miss its steadfastness and its ability to link me to the past. I will always be grateful for the way my home comforted and sheltered me on September 11 when I found my way home to its sheltering arms on that dreadful day. I will always remember how it did the same for my husband and young daughter as we remembered how much we loved our home, our city and one another.
I was blessed to have owned it for 8 years and, as much as I loved and adored it, it was time to let it go and put it into the hands of people who claim to love it.
Re: Knitting: I have been working on a shawl that has helped me hold on to my sanity. It's a lovely pattern from Morehouse Merino): the La Scala shawl. It was supposed to be done in laceweight yarn, but I had some Frog Tree Alpaca in a fabulous shade of periwinkle blue. I'm making this for a dear friend who has to undergo the trauma of a 16 week treatment. She is a wonderful person and deserves better. Hopefully, the sweet little shawl will warm her as much as her sweet spirit warms everyone who knows and loves her.
Pictures to follow. I just didn't want anyone to think I'd forgotten to check in. I have also done a few little baby sweaters which need to be posted. I won't be in the new home til September, so I'm at a bit of a disadvantage in that I can't lay my hands on the cable connector for my camera. I'm working on it though!
Re: the trauma of moving: I have never, ever worked as hard, physically, as I did on that job 9 days ago. We started at 6 am and finished at 8:30 pm - four floors and the detritus and collections of 8 years. When it was done, we checked into a nice hotel and drank Margaritas. Even with the tequila coursing its way though our traumatized systems, we were so overtired that we couldn't sleep. For the next two days, I sat around like some stunned animal - just staring and napping. I read somewhere, once, that you can never make up for "lost" sleep. Well, I worked on it with great vigor - let me tell you - and I think I've managed to do a little catch up.
I will miss my old home - mightily but it was time. I will not miss being responsible for the maintenance of a 160 year old house in the middle of NYC. I will not miss having to figure out ways to outwit the Sanitation department, deal with a nasty neightbor and hearing my electrician say, "Gee, the old timers talk about stuff like this, but I never thought I'd actually see anything like it."
I will miss leaving the back door open to the deck and hearing gulls circling the east river and watching cardinals get ready for spring in my backyard. . I will miss the grace of a staircase that wound itself sensuously through 4 floors. I will miss its steadfastness and its ability to link me to the past. I will always be grateful for the way my home comforted and sheltered me on September 11 when I found my way home to its sheltering arms on that dreadful day. I will always remember how it did the same for my husband and young daughter as we remembered how much we loved our home, our city and one another.
I was blessed to have owned it for 8 years and, as much as I loved and adored it, it was time to let it go and put it into the hands of people who claim to love it.
Re: Knitting: I have been working on a shawl that has helped me hold on to my sanity. It's a lovely pattern from Morehouse Merino): the La Scala shawl. It was supposed to be done in laceweight yarn, but I had some Frog Tree Alpaca in a fabulous shade of periwinkle blue. I'm making this for a dear friend who has to undergo the trauma of a 16 week treatment. She is a wonderful person and deserves better. Hopefully, the sweet little shawl will warm her as much as her sweet spirit warms everyone who knows and loves her.
Pictures to follow. I just didn't want anyone to think I'd forgotten to check in. I have also done a few little baby sweaters which need to be posted. I won't be in the new home til September, so I'm at a bit of a disadvantage in that I can't lay my hands on the cable connector for my camera. I'm working on it though!
posted by pjjhowe at Friday, August 25, 2006
6 Comments:
Oh, Phyllis, congratulations on your move! I know it had to be rugged, in so many ways. But your new digs will surely be a joyful, new beginning for you. Hurray!
Much love and xx00x0x0x
congrats on the move. Simpifying is a good thing. The house was a beauty but you made it so... and no doubt you will do the same for your new digs.
Oh, I know that a move can be traumatic, even if it's much anticipated. I hope you can settle in quickly.
I'm hoping we can get together soon and compare moving-trauma!!!!!
I love this post about your feelings for your house. Having been privileged to spend time there, I know just what you mean about that graceful staircase. I would miss it. xoxo Kay
I siHey there!
I stopped by for lunch hour reading. Your blog is marvelous. I'm so glad there are still native New Yorkers who love the city as much as me.
The amount of ignorance I am faced with every day by co-workers who claim to be authorities on the city (in reality, they're just victims of Time Out)is awful.
I think your shawl will be essential to her healing, especially if it is out of Frog tree. As it is almost the end of October, I know she's feels better wearing it.
been so long since we last had any news on the move. Please tell us that it's because you're settling in and too busy to write and not because you have in the builders from hell/
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