I was in my own personal hell.
After 2 months of (begrudgingly slow) sorting, donating and packing, it was moving day. 7 people, going through my stuff. I don't think I qualify for "Hoarders: Buried Alive" TV Show quite yet, but once I let people start going through my stuff, I really felt like I should at least be on the waiting list. I don't think there was a person on the block that didn't benefit from our over indulgence of things in our garage.
The worst, though, was my In-Laws. They are Olympic Gold Medal hoarders. Every 5 minutes one of them would ask me, "Are you keeping this? Are you taking this? Do you need this?" grrr....yes, I need it. Of course I'm keeping it. No, I'm not throwing it away (as I bury it deeper so they can't see that I DID throw it away...) Oh but the best part: somehow, all my cleaning supplies, including the vacuum cleaner and dustpan got carried off the day before. So I had to go begging to my neighbors for Windex. FML.
Now, on THE DAY...PACKING DAY...I got up at 7 AM, ready to clean, load the truck and have an exciting day... after all, I was moving to a major metro area! Wasn't this what I have dreamed of my whole life? I was definitely jazzed. Hubby and I were off to get the truck, kids stayed home with In-Laws. Hubby insisted on getting a 24 ft trailer...even after we downsized to only 2 beds, a dining room table, 2 desks, a chest of drawers, and a bookshelf. Oh, and Washer and Dryer. Everything else was sold or trash. Ah, but remember that Hoarders comment from earlier...? Yes, we filled that truck. ( I still have piles of boxes, but we will get to that later...)
I kept trying to keep things labeled, and trying to keep things in groups in the truck. After all, wouldn't it be easier if we unloaded each room, instead of mass chaos? Hubby and the I*L (In-Laws) were ALL ABOUT SPEED. Screw organization!!! Let's get this done! Let's get out of here! You would think the Police were about to show up and kick us out! And all the while, Mom I*L was right there "Aren't you keeping this? Shouldn't you pack this? Where is that (random shirt from Wal-Mart) that I got the boys, I want that back if you aren't keeping it..." GRRRRRRR....pressure...building...
Ok, end of stressful day. The truck is packed, it's about 11:30 PM, it's time to catch a nap, get started early the next day. UHHH NOPE! You see, my Dad I*L pulled his back doing something stupid THE DAY BEFORE WE WERE MOVING. So, while we were all running around, packing and cleaning, he was sitting on the couch. SLEEPING. But ever the MAN IN CHARGE...when we were done loading, he was ready to drive. Well, if he was ready, everyone else better be ready, by God. Now, again, I had been up SINCE 7 AM and while I'm not the most driven person in the world, I was awake all that time. So here I was, staring down the barrel of an 8 hour drive. In the dark. With no sleep. PEACHY.
12 AM to 9 AM: The Drive
Ok, we've all done it... driving while tired. Holidays, birthdays, Theme Park Trips, its just something you have to do, because the siren song of your own bed is soooo nice...
But wait! I don't have my own bed to go to. Once we hit DFW, the only thing waiting for me is a carpeted floor. We don't even have a couch to crash on! Why am I here again? Are those dancing unicorns on the freeway? Oh shit, I fell asleep again. Time for more Mt. Dew. Look, pretty orange mountains...oh wait, those are traffic barrels! Turn right! Turn left!
It's 6 AM, somewhere in Oklahoma. I am frantically trying to call Hubby, who is in the moving truck on his cell phone, because I am seriously afraid for my life at this point. It keeps going to voice mail. Again, and again and AGAIN!!!! I'm flashing my lights. I don't think he sees me. I start imagining what its going to feel like hitting one of those cement barriers at 70 mph. We constantly were in some kind of construction zone. Finally, Hubby calls me, "Hey, are you ready for a break?" All nonchalant and shit. YEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS....89 missed calls later you get that?
We pull into a truck stop, gassing up, and then pull over to a dark part of the lot so that we can "nap". 45 minutes later, Hubby is banging on the window. "C'mon I don't want to get caught in morning traffic!" I probably slept for a whole 20 minutes. ( 23 hours awake, 20 minutes sleep. Oh yeah, I should be good....) We were two hours from DFW, plus checking in, so sleep wasn't to come until probably 11 am...ok, you can do this, a couple of good hard slaps across the face should keep you awake. Ok, maybe one more...Aaannd another...
9 AM to 3 PM: Moving IN...
Once we found our little 'burb in DFW, we had to freshen up. A stop at the gas station (which was relatively nice compared to any others I'd seen, awesomely clean bathrooms), then it was off to meet the Property Manager of our new apartment. We ended up going with the first property we looked at. I know, I know, BUT it really was the best deal, with the most perks. We opted for a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom 2nd floor apartment. (without the loft) This way, the boys have their own bathroom, plus extra storage under for pool toys and towels.
We signed papers while Dad I*L maneuvered the huge truck over to the building we would be moving in. They hadn't even finished cleaning the apartment...we were that early. You could still smell the paint (in fact, the pantry wasn't even dry, I still have cans that are stuck to the shelves). We walk in, do a once over, and I'm ready to collapse.
OH NO! It's time to move stuff in! This is where the real clusterfuck started to unravel. You see, my Mom I*L, ever the good Grandma (except when it comes to taking care of MY boys) Had to bring our 4 yo niece with us. My Sister I*L was too busy partying with her friends on a float trip to raise her child. They also brought our 16 year old niece, but hey, she can move boxes. The only thing the 4 yo did was cry and break one of the boys' beds by jumping on it.
So, I'm trying to keep up. Furniture first, then a TON of boxes. An insane amount. No way this is all fitting in this tiny apartment. Not EVERYTHING was labeled, and we are still sorting THAT out, but after 5 MORE hours of up and down stairs, I did collapse. Right on a bare mattress on the floor. I was DONE. It was 3 PM, and I was gone.
