Miles and Miles

I'm not gonna lie, the stress that is involved in the journey that lies ahead is currently so thick you could slice it with a knife.

I am once again hit with the mind-boggling notion that even good change is extraordinarily difficult. To whit:

1. We got an offer on our house. It happened just six little weeks after we put it on the market--and two days after my last post. In this economy, that is nothing short of a miracle. We feel lucky and blessed, as well as frightened, sad, and overwhelmed. And yes, I did bury the statue of St. Joseph that my sister-in-law's mom sent to us. (Thanks, Rose!) I placed him upside-down in the soil in the front yard facing my own house, and two days later it sold. I'm not Catholic, nor am I superstitious, but I'll take it.


2. If the contract holds, we have to be out of our house by November 30. At this point the gravity of it all hit us hard, dead in the gut, and we realized how many good-byes we have to say, how much work we have to do, and how difficult it is going to be to leave our family and friends, our beloved house, and our mountains behind.


3. Then came the price wrangling. Did we get what we were hoping for? No. (We didn't even ask what we were "hoping" for.) Did we get something that is reasonable in this disparaging market? Yes. Will it help us avoid what our realtor calls "the dead zone"--you know, that time just before Thanksgiving and after New Year's when no one wants to sell or buy or do anything other than celebrate? Yes. Will it be enough to get us into our dream house in New Hampshire? Yes.


4. Next came the question: What to offer for the second time in New Hampshire? The answer is the same thing we offered the first time in New Hampshire, except this time our house is under contract. Big fat huge major difference.


5. Just as we were preparing those documents, and at the exact same time that our house in Draper was being inspected, we found out that another party was about to make an offer on the house in New Hampshire. Quick, we had to decide what our very best offer was going to be. And not just our very best offer, but the offer that would get us into this amazing house that we love. Which was, as you can guess, much higher than we were planning.


6. At which point I realized just how much I loathe the process of buying and selling a house. I have never done this before and I pretty much don't want to do it again for a very, very long time. Ahem. Make that never.


7. We put in our offer, the fax pages flying everywhere, one after the other being fed into the machine on their journey to our potential future. And the wait began, all the while not knowing what "issues" our own house had and whether or not there will be any costly repairs, or heaven forbid, deal breakers. Not the least of which could have been our buyer seeing the piles and piles of leaves that our 90-foot cottonwood tree had dropped just the night before.


8. Only to discover the next day, which was this morning, that there are now three players vying for the house in New Hampshire. Aiy yiy yiy!


9. Then we learned that Beccah will not be able to join us in New Hampshire for Christmas because she has two jobs now and can't get the time off. Nicole immediately offered to stay here with her, which I love, but it's bad enough that we are moving away and now we don't get the holidays either?


10. All the while we move from room to room, remembering the young family that filled its walls with joy and laughter 15 long years ago. A bride and the groom who married a family. The six- and eight-year-old little girls who needed tucking into their beds every night. The beloved dog that joined us a few months later who is no more. The gift of time that went into its warm remodel and its inviting landscaping. The cherished conversations. The crazy dancing. The baking of pies. The music played. The books discussed. The lessons learned.

The love that grew.

Change upsets the balance of things. It tips the scales, and that which is displaced must find its way back to stasis. To quote one of my favorite poets, Robert Frost:

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep
But I have promises to keep
And miles to go before I sleep
And miles to go before I sleep.

Miles...and miles...and miles.

Comments

[Jana]

Hang in there Cath. I can see why you are feeling overwhelmed but it all has a way of working out in the end.

[Anabelle O'Malley]

I can only imagine how tremendous this change is for you. Best of luck with the new house. Be sure to take LOTS of pics of your old one, too. When my parents moved out of our childhood home, I took photos of every room, different views from the yard, the driveway, etc. Ten years later, I love looking through that scrapbook.

[Lori Craig]

{{Cath}}

[Smitha]

Oh Cath... I totally feel your stress... May your new home bring you joy, happiness and everything good!
Your blog post is so beautifully written...

Happy moving!

[Marilyn Moore]

What a beautiful entry, Catherine. You are making a huge change in your life. Your house reminds me of you--friendly, inviting, and a reflection on you and your family.
Our book club will never be the same without you. You brought great insight and a younger version of the world around us.
We will miss you, but we also are also excited about your new adventure.

[Stefanie Hamilton]

I'm so excited for you, Cath. You are really taking life by the horns, aren't you?

[Bonnie Sharp]

Pray, pray, pray.......put all that stress into God's hands....

[Julie L Masse]

Hugs and prayers to you Cath!

[Kathi]

{{((Hugs))}} Moving, relocating, changing jobs, and empty-nesting are such huge changes. To have them occur simultaneously must be incredibly difficult.

[Bonnie Isabelle]

just remember that everything happens for a reason. That reason may not be evident right away but it will eventually be revealed. Good luck and best wishes for your "new beginning"

[Nina]

So many changes in so little time, but how exciting for you for what lies ahead! I remember that feeling 13 years ago when my hubby and I decided to move to Croatia.

[Gale R]

Hang in there Cath - sending up prayers that you get the house you want. In a few years you will look back and all this will be a set of funny stories to remember.

[Sally]

Hang in there Cath! Soon you will reap the benefits of this adventure. Much like I have to remind myself all the time...Things happen for a reason. Wish all those reasons were clear from the get go, but that would make life too easy with no surprises. Fingers crossed for you.

[Rachel Greig]

Ahhhh, what a beautiful house you have just sold! I would have bought it in a heartbeat! (we just don't have front yards like that here, they are gorgeous!)

We've just sold our home too, it's currently under contract. Cooling off is next Friday. We're in the process of looking at homes (in the same area though) and have one in particular we like. The kids are excited and scared all at once, it's the first move ever for them. I loved your last paragraph on all the memories you have created together in your home. We'll leave our current home with lots of great memories, and the pressure is on to find a new home so that we can create many more!!!

Good luck with it all Cath... xx

[marty ferraro]

hi cath!
wow! what an adventure you are undertaking. you, of course, still have the most important things with you wherever you go.....your family! and new friends to help fill the empty spots. it is a grand thing to do. congrats on selling your house here, and i know the house in NH will work out also.
much love to you,
marty ferraro

[Helen F.]

OMG, Cath! Congratulations on selling your home so quickly. I am sending many good wishes with your offer on the new house. Hoping you and your family realize and keep in mind that "things happen for the best". Take care and try Yoga for stress relief :o)

[Susan]

Blessings and prayers Cath, as you walk through the open doors along the way. They'll swing open at just the right time. And for the house that is just perfect for you...to begin new traditions and memories.

[jo]

I want to wish you so much happiness on these changes in your life. It will be difficult to not share the holidays with your girls, but maybe somehow it will work out in the end. Have you heard anything about the NH house yet? Talk about stress! Good luck on all the packing and goodbyes and then on to your new home!

[Alice Golden]

hi Cath - wow - so many changes to catch up on... no wonder you are stressed! Good luck with everything and hope to catch up once you are our side of the country... Joe works in Cambridge and Jack goes to school there, so you'll have to tag along to work with Mark one day! Enjoy the holidays!

[Grace N]

Oh Cath I so identify with where you are... I've been there more times than I care to remember, but each move brings new memories, new friends, new exciting opportunities... and if you are like me, new fun opportunities to redecorate another house! FUN! I hope things settle down quickly and you are able to move into your dream home in NH and start making new memories!
hugs,
Grace N