Blog #30

July 27 – Aug 23

There’s lots going on. This installment goes over the move I if it TCC, my hatred of NY roads (I didn’t know what we were gputting up with until we moved), weddings, aging furry family and more joy. The blog has always been about our search for a new place to land, but all the ups and downs in between are part of the story. Bear with me for another emotional rollercoaster ride.

Collecting David’s Collection

We drove new flatbed trailer to Long Island. Yep. Those are words i would never have imagined flowing from my virtual pen. We didn’t have the Airstream so we had to rough it and stay in hotels. Honestly, Ugh. If you can believe it, the Holiday Inn was the only bright spot in our travels. I’d steer clear of others, especially a Country Inn and Suites before it’s been updated. SO sketchy.

Picked up David’s 1968 5/4 US Army Jeep/Kaiser. This type of vehicle was used as a troop carrier, 50 caliber weapons platform, ambulance, etc. It has scuba capabilities and could easily drive through the arctic. David is so happy to have it back under our roof in working order. Our friends Melissa and Anthony D’Angelo had stored it for us after it finally got fixed during our journeys. We broke bread with them and caught up a little. It’s so good to visit with hyeold friends!

Moving: Part I

After months of being parted from our stuff, the day finally came to put it in the moving truck. The movers require that we be present to supervise the removal of all our belongings from storage. I wish we had gotten rid of more. Advice to anyone who asks: get rid of it.

My husband rocks. David’s organizational skills shone during this whole process. Before we moved, he got an inventory app called Sortly. We took pictures of our stuff and the app populated a list with identifying numbers and QR codes. We could even record contents of every box — not that it always happened, but in general it did. A week or two before the move out of storage, we reviewed all the stuff on our list. Virtually, we organized boxes and furniture and attributed everything to specific rooms. Then we made a map of the floorplan and David made stickers with codes for each room. Those stickers had colors indicating the floor of each room (there are only two but we needed a different one for things being stored in the hangar or attic). When we moved out of the storage facility, we reviewed everything as it exited, identified and tagged it with the stickers, marked it off our list, and watched as the movers loaded everything onto the truck. How crazy organized is that?

It’s All Greek To Me — In My Dreams

Right before the move, I stopped into a nearby industrial building and the fortunes smiled on me – because I found the most amazing importer of Greek food. And a Greek bakery! In 2019, my mom and I went on a fabulous food and wine tour of Northern Greece and I fell in love with it all. Most people go to the Islands, but really, if you get a chance, go to the mainland. So much history (Alexander the Great! His father, King Phillip! Preserved cities! Temples to Greek gods! Ancient Christian sites! The Ottomans! WWII! The Jews of Thessoloniki!) and beauty (there is skiing in these mountains! Of course, the water!) Anyway go. This small but completely stocked retail store associated with the rest of the Greek importer was a joy, a total find in Deer Park. Real Greek cheeses and ingredients. My mouth is watering thinking about it.

The movers from Men on the Move were phenomenal. They had scheduled two days but had all our stuff on the large 18-wheeler within 7 hours. Even with all our tracking/organizing activities, we didn’t slow them down. We said good bye to our stuff – see you in a week when you get off loaded in Asheville!

Briana came down from Boston on Saturday. She planned to include some of her belongings on our move so she can store them at our house. We thought she missed the truck completely but we got permission to leave her belongings at the warehouse where they could load it on the truck before the crew headed south. So accommodating! The best part is that we had time with Brianna!

We also got to see our friend Cliff. Cliff taught/teaches me about beekeeping. He kindly gave Bri some honey to help her fundraising effort for the Susan G Komen 3Day walk. Thanks Cliff!

Breakdown

The following Friday and Saturday were moving days. We got a text on Friday morning that the movers would be there at 11:30. Ten minutes later we got another text — the truck broke down. We waited on pins and needles all day. The movers kept us informed. They got a little bit of fix but the radiator might blow again in the middle of rush hour traffic. They would plan for an early arrival on Saturday.

Moving: Part II

The Movers came and stayed all Saturday until 11pm.  Wow.  They did an INCREDIBLE job. David’s organizational skills paid off.  They could practically unload the entire truck without our input, but we were there just in case. We started unpacking but only had a couple of days as we had plans.  We hitched up the Airstream to head to Hudson, NY for my nephew’s wedding and then to the East End of Long Island for an engagement party.

A Little Aside: The Joys of RVing and the Hell that is NYS Roads

When we went to Long Island for the move out from the storage unit, we didn’t have our Airstream with us and I was reminded why I love it. While the Holiday Inn in Staunton elevated my opinion of the chain (wonderful sheets! Great bedding!) every other place left a little – or a lot – to be desired. Hilton Garden Inn welcomed our dogs but the people in NY are so afraid. Every other state we’ve been in, the people approach us to pet our German Shepherd and Lab. In NY, most people turn their backs or refuse to enter the same elevator as our “vicious” dogs who probably would ruin their clothes with sloppy kisses. I understand there are cultural reasons to be afraid of dogs, but honestly, I’ve lost my patience with some NYers’ neurosis.

And your roads. We drove out of PA, and into western NY. I had just hit the head in the Airstream in PA so I knew everything was fine inside the RV. As soon as we crossed the state line, the road turned into bumps pot holes and repaired areas that weren’t level with anything else on the road. Commence bumping and jostling. We had to drop our speed by 10 mph. We got to our destination in Hudson, NY and found that all the items in one of our upper cabinets fell out. We had to spend 30 minutes cleaning up broken maple syrup containers and spices everywhere. Later I found that the screws holding our cabinets in had mostly come loose! Luckily, I could repair that before we left. When we visited my sister in Chappaqua — not exactly a two bit town — the roads were even more destroyed. Between potholes and butchered repair jobs, the roads were atrocious. And that’s putting it kindly.

Back to the Itinerary: Joy at the Wedding. Happy#1

The rehearsal dinner and wedding for my nephew and his new bride were amazing. It was great to see extended family that I haven’t gotten to see in a long time. My sister-in-law (David’s sister Janice) looked like a million bucks and her husband Richard looked like he was about the burst with pride and joy. Everyone was so excited and happy. It’s just a relief to be together for happy occasions again.

Matt and Patty got married on a private estate in Hudson that was just gorgeous. Period. A couple of hundred acres abutting the Hudson River that was wooded and secluded, but opened up to amazing views. The ceremony backdrop was the sun setting over the mighty Hudson River. The bride looked like a princess. As in the movie 27 Dresses, I looked at my nephew as his bride came up the aisle. He was as radiant as she was, with tears in his eyes. The joy and the love were evidenced everywhere. The band was like nothing I’ve ever heard. They played covers that were even better than the originals. Everyone danced the night away! It was great fun to see the groom’s octogenarian grandparents on the floor at every opportunity. The flowers, the setting, the rising moon, the firepit… it was magical. I wish the newlyweds every joy, health and happiness life can bring them.

I am remiss to mention that we rented an AirBnb for the weekend. It was able to house all my kid and their spouses, although Rachel and Madison couldn’t make it. It was a beautiful setting in a very cool eclectic house. The owner is an artist who creates her own tiles and pottery. Her handiwork was everywhere from dishes to backsplashes. The memories are what make it so special.

In Between Happies — More Happy!

On Sunday we all headed out. We decided to hit my sister Anne and BIL Stu’s in Chappaqua on the way down. Earlier in the week, my elderly 14-year-old lab Toby had acquired a cough after visiting a potential boarding facility in Asheville. Rey did not get the cough. While both are vaccinated, it’s possible that Toby’s age makes him more susceptible to contracting colds. Anyway, he started vomiting on Sunday. After lots of cleaning up, we hit the road a little late.

We got to join my sister at a neighbor’s for a pool party which was quite fun. Her friends are terrific. We had a great time talking to everyone and cooling off in a pool. That night we stayed in our comfy Airstream. Toby was not so comfy. We called our old vet who we would be driving by on Monday. He squeezed us in and gave a prescription for an anti-emetic along with some eyedrops as Toby also had scratched his cornea trying to rub his eye during an allergy attack. Poor boy!

Return to Sag Harbor

Monday night we reached Sag Harbor to the hugs and kisses of Aunt Nancy and Grandpa Mitchell at Berken’s retreat. We were also excited to see their daughter Kirsten and her fiancé Sam who flew in from San Fran. The icing on the cake was a couple who was new to us. We had met Mike on a previous trip, but this time he brought his vivacious wife D’Marie and their 6-year old twins Thomas and Addie. I don’t know which one had more charisma. They all charmed the socks off us. So much fun was had over the next few days with them, sharing meals, laughing over Cards Against Humanity, hitting the beach, going for walks.

But Toby… Aging Furry Family

But in between all this fun, Toby was getting worse. After calling numerous local vets (all short staffed) we made an appointment for him at a emergency vet clinic 40 minutes away in Riverhead. They did a work up and it turns out he had aspirated something and now had pneumonia. And a megaesophogus. And a hiatal hernia. Were the last two a symptom of the pneumonia or separate and partly a cause? We don’t know right now but we did have to hospitalize Toby for IV antibiotics and fluids. We took him home the next night with a regimen of umpteen new pills to help him recover and a promise to visit a vet when we got home.

All this to say that Toby is old. I am a big believer that we are much kinder to our pets than to humans in that we can decide that there might be a time to let a mammal die with dignity and not in pain. My daughters and sons all thought this might be that time. After talking to the vets, I didn’t think so. I wanted to give Toby one shot to get over pneumonia, knowing that he has lost a lot of weight fighting off this disease, especially because he couldn’t keep anything down.  

While he seems to be doing better, he’s still not quite himself yet. He’s keeping down food but not always. I know his cough now is “productive” and is helping get the fluid out of his lungs, but it’s hard to see him in this state. Right now we’re on a wait and see. If he can’t get rid of this pneumonia, or he does and contracts it again, we may have to make some tough decisions.

Happy Happy #2

Our final HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY event for the weekend was Kirsten and Sam’s engagement party. Did I mention that she’s pregnant – like 7 months? According to her own Instagram, it’s like every eyelash, shooting star and four leaf clover she ever wished on came through in the same year. New job she loves, new boyfriend now fiancé and she’s prego.

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY #3

And more HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY – Rachel and Madison got their elopement photos back – at least the initial ones. So beautiful. They hiked up a mountain before dawn to take their wedding vows in private (except for the dogs and photographer). The sun rose on one of their adventures, this one with lifelong promises for many more to come.

I’m off to Boston to walk in the Susan G. Komen 3Day against breast cancer. More to come on that. But if I don’t finish this, it may be weeks before we get another update, so… I’m off!