The deed is done. We now are official citizens of the state of Pennsylvania. Our children managed to help stuff 49 years of things plus a good many items from two single lives into 80 boxes and 4 wardrobes. This was after 2 pickup truck loads went to Goodwill, 2 yard sales and more trips to the dump than I can remember. Once the movers holding the treasures of 3 different families headed south, we two exhausted 70+ year olds headed out to get a head start on the next morning to get to the apartment before dark the next day. Trouble is we left later than hoped and it was getting dark with a light mist and we were each driving a vehicle (the black pickup first and my white car following) - thus losing each other immediately (have I ever mentioned my growing cataracts?) - believe me hordes of guardian angels worked overtime on 495 south that night. We caught up at a predetermined rest area (remember the ages) and managed the last 50 miles to the motel in tandem as this time I led in white. Hurray! Safe, checked-in and hungry. We walked across the lot towards the available restaurant only to have the heavens open up to welcome us with blinding sleet/hail. Never have figured which is which. I only know that once we made it inside my hair was covered in pea sized ice. Guess what - our quiet, restful dinner was going to be served surrounded by pre-teen karaoke stars singing their little hearts out (at least I think that's the noise they made). After one look, the server took pity and found us a booth around the corner. I felt like the snowman in the Campbell Soup ad who was really an ice covered little boy that appeared as the snow melted. Do you know it takes quite a while for pea sized ice to slowly drip into a nice warm Rueben. -
We managed an early start and ran into the motel lobby for a quick breakfasst. TIP: If in a hurry, read the signs. I'd done this many times before so grabbed a cup of batter,closed the lid on the Belgian waffle maker, gave it a twist and while I was watchIng the 2.5 minute timer read the sign next to a huge can that read GENEROUSLY SPRAY GRIDDLE BEFORE USING. It took 15 minutes to chip the waffle from the top griddle - add that to another generously sprayed nearly perfect one and coffee and juice - we got on the road half hour late but made smooth time for the next 5.5 hours. In no time everyone we met knew we were the Wilders from Maine for no one had ever seen a moving truck that long. It was the topic of the day. Now we are slowly settling once again knee deep in boxes not to be filled but emptied. Our son and DIL drove down from Maine the next day and with our daughter did a good start of putting things away somewhere. Now I start each day with a scavenger hunt - thank goodness I loved that game as a child.
Now logically-if you plan to settle in an independent adult community (highly recommended)-try to get a sooner start. They say that 60 is the new 40 but 70 to 80 is still the old 70-80!!
