Dear Dad

Just talked to mom, she says you were dissapointed that there wasn't a blog post this morning. This is because there is no Internet at the hotel. I can post from my phone but I took pictures with the camera so I need the computer to post those. Don't worry we are doing great, going to put our stuff on a boat today and head up to Ilissa's, maybe she has WI-FI and I can post the details of the trip.

I love you mom and dad!

-- posted from my IPhone

Location:N McCadden Pl,Los Angeles,United States

Leaving Mesquite

What joy I feel at the sense of possibilities that await me. Also, I'm loving the fact that I don't know what is going to happen. I woke refreshed, our hotel room was nice; kitchenette, large bathroom, sitting room, king size bed, and a little patio. We took the dogs out and had a smoke. Mesquite is a dessert town about the size of Parker. It is a valley surrounded by high, craggy mountains, rust colored dirt and palm trees.



We get a free breakfast with our stay so we bring the dogs back to our room and go downstairs. Baxter immediately starts crying. We have to eat in shifts. He already feels like the truck is his home, jumping right in and bunkering down. It's 8am and we need some good coffee, our iPhone tells us where the Starbucks are, to no avail. Two, are in casinos and one hasn't opened yet. Frustrated, we hit the road.

We arrive in Las Vegas at 10, it's strip covered in a low lying poullition cloud. It's warm ish, a balmy 50 degrees. I think we have left the cold behind us. We stop and get a Starbucks and some gas. Back on the road we snack on some of mom's rum cake and I read our book aloud.

We enter California at 11, drive through the Mojave Dessert at noon. It's getting warmer, 58 degrees. At 12:30, we stop in Baker for "the best gyros in the world" at the "world famous" Mad Greek Cafe. The gyros are the best I've ever had, Dan says he's had better but these were excellent. We feed the dogs and, back in the car I give Lucy a drink.



Arriving in Hollywood at 5pm, our trip gets frustrating. We are in a city that doesn't have much space, driving a large U Haul truck and trailer with a hotel clerk who doesn't want to work. The parking lot he reccomends is covered and we can't fit. We decide to try and ditch the trailer, I'll drive the jeep, Dan the U Haul truck. We have to drive to the U Haul in Van Nuys. 24 miles and 90 minutes later we are back to the hotel looking for a place to park the U Haul truck. An hour later, one person is willing to let us park over night, if we are willing to pay for it, which, at this point, we'll pay anything! Finally, 3 hours after we got to our hotel, I get to rest. I take a shower and unpack while Dan tries to find a place to park the jeep over night and bring back some dinner. We can't leave the dogs unattended in this dump. Nothing like last nights hotel, this is small, no WI-FI, the remote doesn't work, there is no Kleenex, shampoo, or lotion which is a bummer since that stuff is in the truck.

Dan and I don't care for LA or Hollywood. The drivers are aggressive, getting into your lane dispite the fact that you're not letting them in (I'm trying to follow Dan). The people cross the street while tapping away on their phones or just looking at something else, oblivious either way. Too much noise and too many people. Of course we are extremely cranky and that may have some bearing on our opinion, but still!

Dan comes back 30 minutes later with burritos. We eat them, walk the dogs and get the shampoo from the truck. It's 9:30 and I'm ready for bed!

Dan has done an excellent job of safely manuvering the truck and and trailer, driving 26 hours in the last 2 days. His legs and back are stiff and crampy. But, he still manages to be in a decent mood, the food and bed helping him get there.

-- posted from my IPhone

Location:Falcon Ridge Pkwy,Mesquite,United States

Today Is The Day!

This morning I wake up at 4:22, ready for the day. I decided I'd catch up on my blog. Luckily, someone in the neighbourhood has not locked their Wi-Fi. At 5:50, I take the dogs out and have a smoke. The early morning has not turned to light and I can see my breath in white clouds against the black of night. Cold, I go inside to clean up while Baxter wakes Dan and dad. Mom makes us more Spanish coffee, grapefruit that she sliced for us, and breakfast burritos.

The goodbyes are hard. I'm 43 years old and leaving home for the first time. Dad barely gets out the words "vio con dios" and walks away. Mom, tears streaming down her face, gives me a hug and is right behind him. Julie calls and cheers me up, refocusing me and reminding me why I am doing this. Uncle AK comforts me saying mom and dad left everything the knew at one time too.

We are heading down I-70 and it's pretty cozy. 

Passing under the bridge that perfectly frames the mountains, I think of dad. When he and I would head up to hike or cross country ski, he'd always let out a heartfelt wooohooo! This signifies the entrance into the Rocky Mountains.

The dogs have finally settled down, I think the doggie downers and the excitement have finally taken effect.

We pass Copper Mountain. Dan and I met at the base 14 years ago, this past November.

After getting some gas in Vail we make a bed for Lucy on the floor of the truck, she loves it.

The dogs enjoy the trip, sensing that we are all in this together, we eat, drink and ride. Where we go one, we go all!

The radio stations won't tune in so I read Merle's Door: Lessons From a Freethinking Dog, aloud. At 9:40, 14 hours after we left, we arrive at the hotel in Mesquite, Nevada.

Mom and Dad

Thank you.

Thank you for letting us stay with you our last few days here.

Thank you for all the wonderful meals made with love.

Thank you for your graceful acceptance of our choice.

Thank you for your support, despite how you feel about it.

Thank you for your curiosity about our new lives.

Thank you for the easy conversations.

Thank you for doing what you can to help us be on our way.

Thank you for taking such good care of us and the dogs.

Thank you for your warm and thoughtful love.

We appreciate you.

Thursday

Dan is looking forward to getting to our new home, he woke at 4:15 and couldn't go back to sleep. I  think once we get there and all the little details are resolved, he'll sleep like a baby. I had a great nights sleep. Mom is already making breakfast, the smell of coffee drifting down to us. We get cleaned up and go upstairs.  On the menu; Spanish coffee, OJ, sliced grapefruit halves, and cuban sammies (my request). The dogs are a little neurotic, all the chaos and confusion has left them wondering if we are going to sell them like we have everything else. They are really clingy, not letting me out of their sight and wanting to be pet every available moment. They know grandma and grandpa's house and after the excitement of seeing them again wears off, they seem to have calmed down. I was going to bring them back to the house for the final packing but I decide it would be better to leave them with mom and dad, they love it at grandma and grandpa's! Dan and I go to Starbuck's to get some coffee and use the Wi-Fi then head over to Starz, they have a reimbursement check for us.

The U Haul store is tricky to find. We see all the trucks in the parking lot of a gas station/convenience store but no store front. Frustrated, Dan parks the jeep in front of the gas station. Inside, by the cash register, is a small U Haul sign. Turns out they are also a cleaners.

It takes us less than an hour to pack the truck. Betty is in the house cleaning and Dan and Irvin load the cedar chest. It is the only piece of furniture we are bringing and it's loaded with stuff: my Kitchen Aid mixer, food processor, ice cream maker, a motar and pestle, and stuffed full with whatever Deb and I could fit. The truck is loaded so Dan checks the mail, keys, cleans up the dog leavings and winter proofs the house. Betty is still cleaning and we cant lock up so we go to Las Delicias with Sue and Irvin. Luckily, our favorite waiter/bartender Jesus is there. We order up a Cazadores margarita, Jesus makes a mean one, and wait for our meal. Irvin is dreaming about Hawaii so we talk about what it's like and the conversation moves to great books. Final hugs, they go off to celebrate their anniversary and we head over to UPS. The Dish Net receivers need to be dropped off, then to Wells Fargo to cash the check from Starz, back home to lock up and back to Main Street to give our realtor the keys. The buyer's realtor never made arrangements to do a walk through or get the keys. Oh, well!

Mom and dad are warm by the fire, watching TV, when we get there. I unload the truck while Dan puts the jeep on the trailer. A quick shower later and we are having dinner at Carrabba's. Dad toasts to success, fun and adventure and we give them the details of our new lives. We talk about finances, health insurance, jobs, our house and try to teach him some Hawaiian names. Back home he's eyes close despite his best efforts and Dan calls it a night.

Wednesday

Last night was our last night in this house. Dan and I finally got a good night's sleep. Dan up at 5, me 6, we feel ready to tackle the last bits of the move. Even though I think my mind is free of crazy worry, I had a mild asthma/panic attack. I did some breath work (2 counts of an easy, full breath in expanding my belly and 4 counts of an easy exhale forcing all the air out with my belly, repeated until relief comes) and felt back to normal. There is no food or plates in the house so the plan is to work until 9, when Las Delicias opens, and have a last smothered breakfast burrito. Today's agenda is to get all the donation stuff to the curb for pick up, pack up the last remaining boxes, get those in the garage and pack the clothes and toiletries. Interspersed will be laundry, my final dentist appointment, Susan coming to get her final things and a guy from Craig's List is coming to get the bed. We will head over to mom and dad's to stay until we leave. Today is dads 80th birthday so mom is making a nice meal.

Sue, Irvin, Savannah, Jeremiah, Josiah, and Jonathan came by to get the rest of their things. Susan's eyes are red from crying, she breaks down three times while she is there. Once, when I give her the coconut wind chime we got in Kauai, and told her to think of us when the wind made it sing and again when I gave her a plate Dan had made in first grade. Irvin enfolds her in his strong, loving arms as she cries into his chest. Susan and Irvin are meeting us tomorrow to help load the truck, as they say goodbye Savannah realizes that she won't be coming. It's their wedding anniversary tomorrow and they're going to spend the day together. Savannah had this crushed look on her face so I go over and gave her a hug. She started crying and, with tears in my eyes and a shakey voice I tell her a story. She was about 3 months old and we were at their house, I was holding Savannah and looking into her big blue eyes. She was looking right back into mine. We held each others gaze for about a minute. During that time I felt this powerful surge of love and joy infuse every bit of my being. I have never felt anything so powerful before in my life. After that, she just loved me with all her heart. She would always be by me when we'd visit and ask after me when we were not around. She smiles and asks me if I remember that time we made a cake, her eyes still a little damp. As they drive off, Dan say that was the saddest part so far.

With Susan and mattress guy gone we go to Las Delicias for breakfast only to learn that they don't open until 11. Crikey! Since we were running late, Dan takes me to the dentist and we have Einsteins on the way. Wolfing down green chili bagles with jalapeño (me) and sun dried tomato (Dan) cream cheese and sipping on a Starbucks coffee, we go over our plans for the rest of the day. We need to get a pin for the trailer hitch, water bottles for the dog crates, the rest of the chantix prescription and back home to pack up the remaining things and get the boxes in the garage before heading over to mom and dads. Sitting in the parking lot of the dentist's office, we have a moment of respite. Inside, Dr. Chapman says my implant looks great. OK, off to run the errands. Standing in line at the pharmacy Dan cracks a genuine smile. It's good to see him smile, he's doing such a great job, dilligently attending to the details, but it's really stressing him out. Fortified with coffee and cigarettes, we trundle on, we are exhausted, one foot in front of the other, one step at a time. Mentally fuzzy and barely able to hold ourselves upright, we mozy on home to finish the packing.

Four hours later (2 hours longer than we thought it would take) we are done for the day. Everything that is left is in 1 room, about 4 boxes worth. I can get those packed while Dan, Susan and Irvin load the truck and Betty cleans the house.

Bedraggled, we arrive at mom and dads. We are dirty and smelly. A quick shower is in order. Did I pack my sweats in the suitcase, the boxes for Brian or the boxes that are being shipped? I guess I'll find out soon enough!

Walking into moms home it's warm, smells good, and, as always immaculately clean. We put our things away, wash up and head upstairs to see what's cookin. The table is decked out for dad (who is still at work) her fine china, wine glasses and champagne glasses stand ready. Simmering on the stove is her meat sauce: 1/4" cubed steak slow cooked in tomatoes to be tossed with penne pasta, covered with mozzarella cheese and baked until golden brown and bubbly. We have a beer, some prosciutto and olives and catch up.

Mom's Spanish Style Macaroni and Cheese

Mom's Rum Cake

Dad came home so we go upstairs to eat. Tonight is hard. They are brave, courageously holding back tears. Are they afraid I will get mad if they cry? I hope not. Their cover is broken when a life long buddy, Marta calls. She wants to celebrate dads birthday Friday, he says he won't be in the mood for celebrating. He tries to get her to come with us tomorrow night, unsuccessful, he passes the phone to Dan where he lays on the guilt. "we'd like to see you before we go". She already has plans. Dan passes the phone to me. I try, unabated, I say I'll forgive her if she promises to make my folks happy. She says they'll take care of each other, encouraging me to "go, live your life". We cry and I pass the phone to mom, she's upset too but recovers and they make plans for Saturday. I'm truly grateful for my parents, the life they have given me, the experiences they have shown me, the love they have folded Dan and I in.

Tuesday

Again, Dan had a rough night. He got out of bed at 2am because Lucy was snoring up a storm so he went downstairs to sleep on the lazy boy. I fell right back to sleep and woke at 6am. Not wanting to wake Dan, I stayed in bed and read until 7, I figured we needed to get going. I tried to be quiet but Baxter came roaring down the stairs and woke him. He said he needed to get up anyway. He now has a rib out from sleeping on the lazy boy. Another soy crumble and egg white breakfast wrap later and we packed the stuff Brian will be sending us next week (so we have staples upon our arrival). We took the dogs to the groomers and headed to the bank. We needed to close our account and wire transfer the money to our account in Hawaii. The bank folks we a little envious but really excited for us and sent us off with well wishes. With our money situation squared away we went to Starz to meet Brian and Tiffany. They are such fantastic people and, as a couple, I think they have found their soul mates, but, that's my opinion! I wish them as much happiness as Dan and I have had, more if that's possible. At home, we ate our last Chipotle meal, listening to the CD Karen gave us. Henry Kapono and his album "The Wild Hawaiian", is fan-freaking-tastic! This guy rocks, like a Hawaiian Widespread Panic with some Santana splashed in. Dan's sister Susan came by with Savannah and loaded their mini van up, they are going to come back tomorrow for the rest. Dan made some quick phone calls dealing with changing our address for our 401k's and credit card, then took off to the the vet so the dogs can get the flea and tick stuff applied and Dan can get their health certificate and some doggie downers for the trip. Meanwhile, I waited for Deb and Travis to come by and packed the dishes for our neighbor. Deb and Travis happily took all the food stuffs, the vacuum for Josh and the Blue Ray player for Wes. Dan got back from the vet, $517.00 less,  just in time to say goodbye and we headed over to our neighbors Jed and Stacey. We had a great meal at Texas Roadhouse and said our goodbyes.

To y friends and family reading this, sorry the posts are lack luster, I promise they'll get better once we are in Hawaii!