Settled in Texas

 

Finally!

This past week was the action-packed move 1,550 miles across the country from northern New Jersey to the suburbs of Dallas, Texas.

I am pleasantly exhausted, and still a little in disbelief that the entire thing went off with nary a hitch.

Last weekend, the 10th, 11th, and 12th, was a whirlwind of see-ya-laters (not goodbyes) and last-minute packing. I partook of a wee bit much whiskey one night – Hopper’s a strict beer drinker – and paid the price, though it was worth it. Monday was intense as the only air conditioning unit on our main level broke down and we stacked and packed boxes in brutal heat and humidity. Tuesday the movers came and – well, perhaps that’s a subject of another post.

The car drive down to Texas took a little over 24 hours, spread out over three-and-a-half days. Friday morning we closed on the new home and later supervised movers where to put the furniture, had the AT&T guy wire us up for wireless, and waited for the new refrigerator to be delivered and installed. We uncorked champagne and allowed the girls a small glass each. Saturday and Sunday flew by in a fit of unpacking over twenty boxes of mostly kitchen stuff, but also a good deal of bedroom and bathroom items.

Charlie's first glance inside his new home ...

We had fun though, and made it fun. Watched some shows with the girls in our new Family Room, and sat through a disappointing Bird Box. We tested the local sushi one night. One of the wife’s colleagues dropped off two boxes of donuts and a box of pigs-in-blankets (!). Later, our neighbors welcomed us with additional fried sugar treats. Very touching and nice.

This week the wife is buying a car and getting the not-so-little ones settled as far as their school situation goes (which starts in four weeks down here). I’m starting the job search today, applying to jobs online, contacting recruiters and getting the suit and white shirts – wrinkled abominably in the move – to the cleaners. Oh, and I began the day by waking early, stretching these old bones, doing a 1.5 mile walk and lifting some iron before it gets too hot later in the day.

To all who supported and helped us, a hearty THANK YOU!

To those back up north, to paraphrase General MacArthur, WE SHALL RETURN!

To those wondering what’s going on with the Hopper, more to follow in the next couple of days …