Ten Days

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Only ten more days in Corpus Christi, and then I leave for Arkansas.  Part of me is anxious to get it over and done; part of me dreads the move.  I will be ready in the sense that everything will be packed.  Not ready to leave my friends and family behind.  Copper and I will be traveling alone for a day and a half to get there.

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I just got back from spending a week in Atlanta, where my niece was having surgery.  Traveling alone through strange airports was good practice in a way.  I challenged myself and did fine, so I know the car trip will be okay, too.

The Atlanta trip was a real awakening for me. I hadn't flown in more than 20 years, and the experience has changed drastically.  I knew what to expect from the TSA, but the time I spent in the Houston and Atlanta airports made me conclude that I really don't like flying all that much.  I also had to rent a car in Atlanta, which I had never done for myself.  I asked if they had any PT Cruisers, thinking that driving the same model I drive at home would make things easier.  No, they didn't have any, but they gave me the closest thing they had. A new Chevy HHR, Razorback Red, with Arkansas plates on it!  No, I didn't tell them where I was moving. It was easy to drive, although I didn't figure out the door locks until the third day, and never did figure out how to work the radio.  But I felt cool driving it!

 

 

This is the car I rented in Atlanta.

My niece had her surgery, but had a protracted stay in the hospital.  I had to leave before her discharge (thank goodness her brother also was there.)  I managed to find my way back to the rental car return, and get through the airport without a hiccup. A three hour layover in Houston seemed even longer, but the trip from there to Corpus went by in a flash.

One of the highlights of the trip was going to The Container Store and to Ikea with my nephew.  I had never been to either store.  I have to admit it was like a day at Disneyland for both of us.  We agreed that the smaller Container Store one-upped Ikea for us both.  We are both organization freaks. We walked in and stood there with our mouths open, not knowing where to look first.  Neither one of us could buy much, but we snagged catalogs for future reference.  Ikea was more like a modern museum of art.  Quite an experience, especially on a Saturday afternoon. Loved the Swedish meatballs, and the cinnamon rolls! And thank God for GPS in my nephew's cell phone!  We would never have found our way through Atlanta without it.  We became quite fond of that female voice.

As you can probably tell, it was quite an adventure, and an opportunity for personal growth.  I now feel I can handle almost anything that comes my way.  It would have been easier if my hubby had been along, but I wouldn't have gained as much confidence.

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We put our house up on the market on a Monday, and it was under contract by that Friday.  I wasn't quite ready for it to happen so fast.  Not that there will be any love lost for this old house.  The buyers are getting a good deal, even though we are selling it as is.  It is still about 15% off the market price for this area.  We just wanted to get it sold quickly.  We will have to do the closing remotely from Arkansas, but we've done that before.

Yesterday my son and I went to pick out my new smartphone, a Samsung Galaxy Nexus.  He helped set it up for me, and other than ringtones that don't seem to work, I am loving it.  He also changed our e-mail accounts for us, as they were through our cable provider and that will be different in Arkansas. Last night I was downloading apps right and left.  I wanted to get it before the move so he could help me with it.  Are you getting the sense that I am a naturally timid person?  Yup, that's me. A bit of a wimp.

Tomorrow I have my last Book Club meeting, and the next Monday my last meeting with my Red Hat friends.  I may be blubbering by the end of that one. My sons and daughter-in-laws meet us for dinner this Friday night. I have a doctor's appointment on the 2nd of May, and Copper and I head for the hills on the 3rd.  Literally.

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I'm not sure about the new format that Blogger is using.  Just when I felt like I knew what I was doing with the old system they up and change it on me.  But it seems a little easier once I have gotten the hang of it.  But this will be the last post for a few weeks until everything gets set up in our new house.  I will be back!  Until then, pray for good driving weather!

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