I’ve been down with the flu, then bronchitis and generally out of sorts for over a month. Three antibiotics, two inhalers and weeks of bed rest. Seriously sick. I’ve popped into a few blogs to try and stay in touch, but frankly, it’s been tough.
Unfortunately I was also too sick to go finish the packing and move out of our house on Vancouver Island.
The process still happened without me. It had to because the house was sold. I just wasn’t part of it.
A friend wisely observed that a lung infection was a pretty clear message (from my body) to stay away from the very emotional house-closing. I was having second and third and fourth thoughts about selling that house…but it was done and there was no going back.
We’d been up in November to sell most of what we didn’t want, and start some of the packing…but there was still a lot of work to do.
The weather was lousy and gray, but it reminded me of the
Blustery days days we’d spent settled before a roaring fire, content to read and listen to the storms.
Luckily, my son offered to fly up and help my husband get us out of there.
Sadly, neither one had a clue what they were doing.
There are no labels or indication of contents, on any of the boxes. The writing that is on some of the boxes, was from our last move… and has no correlation to what’s in them this time. Several boxes came from the supermarket and don’t have tops. When they opened the truck I just stood there. In shock.
It looked like was a junk heap crammed into the back of a Uhaul. I had to laugh when I saw they’d left the sheets on the mattresses! Trust me, I had to. At least they rolled up my Persian carpets.
True confession here? I’m a bit of a total neurotic about how things should be done…and this didn’t even come close to my vision.
And so, this is where I learn to roll with the punches and let go of what I can not change.
Everything has now gone into storage until we decide what we’re going to do with ourselves and where we want to live.
I am grateful they didn’t arbitrarily decide to toss things I may have wanted, but my work is cut out for me when we decide to settle somewhere.
My favorite days, by far, were spent
here on my deck chair. I never tired of the changing view. It was like sitting in front of a giant movie screen. There was always something interesting to see.
And now that I’ve taken this trip down memory lane, I’m sad all over again.
Time to rise to the occasion and remember why we did this. It was time. I can’t really say why it was…I just knew it was time to move on to a new adventure.
I will never skip getting my annual flu shot again. Never.
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Oh Jennifer! I was meant to read this post today. I feel so bad for you and I can relate on so many levels. Do you know I got sick the day after Christmas with a cold and cough that only left me a week ago? Believe me, now that I’m healthy again I realize how being sick colored my view of things. And left me prone to feeling overwhelmed.
I need to go back through your blog and find out why you’re moving, but we are clearly going through many of the same poignant emotions that come with letting go and moving on. Loss is so hard. I’m right behind you, with the house process. Today we got our home inspection done and tomorrow we get our appraisal report back. in the meantime I’m walking around in a sentimental fog, taking lots of photos and noticing all the little things I loved about living in our home. Today I took a photo of my view out the kitchen window. Every morning when I made coffee I looked out onto the tree-lined street and watched the neighborhood wake up, and I even felt sadness about this small loss. Hang in there my friend. I just saw a quote that lifted my spirits. “In every ending there is a new beginning.” And we have so many wonderful things ahead of us. Don’t sweat the boxes, my boxes look the same I’m sorry to say… I have absolutely no idea how I will find things when I finally unpack.
Make your health and rest your first priority. And everything else will fall into place. Sending you all my positive energy and prayers for a smooth transition….
xo
Leslie
Always sad to say goodbye to a beloved place.
Yes, your body is certainly sending you a message!
Please feel better!
Jennifer,
I have been having problems with leaving comments of late. You have been in my thoughts and prayers as we prepare for our annual trip to Whistler soon. I am hoping it will be a clear day for the beautiful drive along the Sea to Sky Highway.
I am also hoping that you are on the mend. Please do not “over do”, there can be a relapse, or pneumonia.
I think I may have told you that we had a boat may years ago, and spent a couple Summer vacations in the Canadian San Juan’s and Vancouver Island. It’s glory is one of the world’s best kept secrets.
I am relieved that you are still going to be blogging. I would miss your beautiful touches of sincerity and class!
Send hugs and wishes for a full recovery.
w/L
Sorry to read you have been ill. Hope you are feeling better!
I’m sorry you’ve been sick, Jennifer. I hope you’re better very soon! Your pic’s are lovely. THis is my home so looking all familiar to me. We like to take a trip to Tofino once a year and it looks very similar to your beautiful second home. Time for you and your family to move on to new adventures 🙂
Torino is so wonderful, we love going out there. I will forever remember the majestic beauty of that home. Vancouver is a stunning city. Lucky you!!
Your post has reminded me just how traumatic moving house tends to be and it doesn’t help if you are feeling unwell. I’m a control freak too and I like all the boxes labelled too. I’m sure you will find somewhere you will love and with it comes all the excitiement of making it home.
Jennifer, Cannot believe what a terrible bug you have been dealing with. So sorry that it’s been so rough.That coupled with the move is too much. I’ve gotten sick moving before. I’m like you a control freak, but you know getting less so as I age. Let go and it will all work itself out. You will find another place you love!
Thinking of you. Take care! xo Kim
Thanks so much Kim. I’m trying to learn to let things go. It’s a work in progress. xoxo
My dear … what a beautiful and poignant post … I absolutely believe in mind, heart , body interrelationship. I hope your health is recovering … as well as your heart.
Much Love dear friend.
Tamera
xoxo Tamera. Let’s chat soon.
Oh, my goodness! I am so sorry to hear you have been so ill! And how awful to have to move while you are sick. Don’t worry about the unpacking, just focus on getting well! You poor thing!! You are really going through a lot right now. Hang in there!
XOXO,
The Glam Pad
This flu has been the worse I’ve ever had! On the road to recovery now. Thanks so much.
Jennifer dear-oh I am so feeling this with you. First, I’ve been under the weather myself and am just starting to catch up. Your home and view were incredible. I loved seeing your post again of how you spent your days in that beautiful spot. I know that looking at it now makes you sad. Over time I think those lovely photos will bring sparkling memories back. That’s how I felt when my mom sold our family place at Lake Tahoe. I am so grateful that I have photos of the beauty. As for unpacking….well-it’s like you really are ‘there’ with the move, it just came to you in a truck. It’s so hard to let go of control. When your energy is back you will tackle that and make sense of it all. I am excited to hear about your next adventures. So happy I discovered your blog!
Hope you are feeling tip top again!
xx, Heather
Thank you Heather. I hope you are totally recovered from the stresses f the holidays. You had quite a scare there!! Those memories of my days relaxing in the deck are precious. It really was the most amazing place. Interestingly, Lake Tahoe has been bantered about as a possibility. It’s close to my darling grandson and has beautiful scenery. But I also like Carmel, Napa, Santa Barbara, Maui…the talks continue. So happy to have found yours too. Looking forward to meeting you one day soon. xoxo
I love how you manage to keep you humor in tact despite being in the depths of despair! Poor thing…please get better fast. Selling your vacation home was a brave thing to do and I think you are going to be pleasantly surprised by what adventures await you.
I am pretty sure I would have witnessed the same moving results if it had been left to my husband and son-in-law. What a headache. Kind of funny though. : )
If I can find the humor in things, I survive them much better. Especially stuff like this. It’s that or cry 🙂
I have moved many times, and the times it was abroad I was advised tol eave the house when the professional packers did it as I would be very upset. That was good advice. Get well soon.
Jennifer, this post takes my breath away!! Seven years ago, I moved from a perfectly wonderful home, to my current little “bolt hole”. I still don’t know why. I think I felt my home was defining me, and there was so much more of me to discover. Like you, my body gave out. Cellulitis turned ugly, antibiotics, doctors, etc. Its not easy to change! Thank goodness for a couple of friends. Actually, I purged almost everything I had accumulated over the course of eleven years, and I sometimes wish I hadn’t! My daughter was ten years old at the time, and when the dust settled, I spent a month in bed, wondering who I was, drinking hot chocolate with my little girl. Its the people we have to love who define us. Get well soon!!!
Oh Cynthia, that must have been so traumatic!! I’ve made rash changes many times, and lived to regret my choices. Thank heavens for dear friends!! I’ve purged my belongings once before and did regret giving away some of it, so I was pretty careful this time. We just got rid of duplicates, since I didn’t want two of everything. Sentimental things were carefully packed. Glad your doing so much better. Your Alice is a darling. xo
I hope you are feeling better. Moving can be so over-whelming is so many ways.
Gosh I do hope you feel better now?? It is terrible and must have been stressful to be passive against such a move. I must admit the sheets still on the bed made me laugh!! Ps they say once you have flu shits then you pretty much have to keep it up annually or the one year you don’t then you get sick. So please take care Jennifer and happy new year
Very true. The flu shits, although I’m sure you meant shots. I am feeling better, but still on the inhalers. If they’ve made me more prone to the flu, it’s a further incentive to keep getting them. No going back now! HNY to you too! xoxo
Shit I meant shots!! Hehe but another tip is if you have radiators then put damp towels with about thirty drops of tea tree oil to cleanse the air. But also try and replenish your probiotics in your system if you have taken antibiotics.
Hope you get feeling much better as the days go on. It would be exceptionally difficult to deal with a major move and the sorting that goes with that when you feel well without having to contend with strong emotions and not feeling physically up to the demands. I find that if I am a part of the change it is easier but you didn’t get to do the last bit which would leave me feeling the loss more. Having your health back will allow you to look to what exciting things lie ahead!
I am so sorry you have been ill. I can’t imagine letting go and allowing someone else to pack up my belongings. I suppose with the opening of each box you will be greeted with a surprise. Breathe and enjoy! Feel better soon…
That’s such a lovely way of looking at it Bonnie :-))