Gratitude
I've always liked to be independent. It seems meritorious.
But with a growing family, I've started to see really clearly that you can't do everything yourself, and you're a fool if you try. Over the course of our move, we've gotten an almost embarassing amount of help from friends, family, and even strangers.
Mom & Dad: My dad flew to California to help us pack and load our worldly possessions. There's no way — at all — it could have gotten done without him.
Sharon & Rick: My in-laws let Stacey, Edward, and I stay with them for many, many days over the last few months. They served us food, let us borrow their cars, watched Edward (and Abby), and more. I don't know where we would have stayed otherwise, or how we would have gotten through it all.
Karla, Todd, & Jackson: While were were in the final throes of packing in Los Angeles, the Powerses not only let us crash at their place, but did more than their fair share of babysitting. And then, they not only let us invite a bunch of our friends over to their house to say goodbye, but made a ton of food for the event. (They were probably more than happy to drive us to the airport, just so they could get back to normal!)
Jesse: My good buddy Jesse "the Real Estate Dude" Dubuque worked like a fiend to help us find our house, make sure we got it, and keep the deal on track through escrow. Let him help you with your buyin' and sellin' some houses needs.
Alex: Alex helped my dad and I pack (and re-pack) the last day's truckload on the last day of the Los Angeles end of our move. We could never have gotten it done without him, and his car's unfailing headlights.
John: John Nephew, overlord of Atlas Games, was above-and-beyond-the-call understanding when I needed to take time away from work to pack, and travel, and unpack, and help around the house. Not to mention all the professional opportunities he's given me over the years.
Peter & Ericka: Peter and Ericka watched Abby for us over Christmas, and would have done more in January, if she hadn't tried to eat their new puppies. (We're sooo embarassed.)
Steve, Dave, Joe, Link, Ben, Dava, Jim, Heather, Rick (again), Mom (again), Dad (again), and Jesse (again): We had a monster crew to help us unload and unpack at the Roseville end of the odyssey. Many hands definitely made light work!
Last but not least (in fact, last and most)...
Stacey & Edward: You're everything.
Ten thousand — and more — thanks to all of you, from the whole of my heart. The move would have been a disaster without you. When the situation's reversed, I'll be there.
Something like this often ends with "...and to everyone I've forgotten, thank you, too!" (Or, worse, a list is sometimes not written at all, and a blanket thanks issued instead, out of fear someone will be accidentally left out.) Not here! If I owe you some love, drop me a line and take me to task!
Again, many thanks, all. I'm very, very grateful.
Comments
I got my love, so no task-taking from me. It's just that your listing reminded me of an entry from another blog I read. You might be interested in: http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2007/01/gratitude/
No task-taking here, just regret that I happened to be away during the time when I could have been there to help. My kingdom for the ability to be in two places at once! (small kingdom, I know.)
You're sincerely welcome. And no one really believes me when I say I love moving. Though I'm definitely older than I was 8 years ago! ha ha