D-Day, Tuesday July 28th has arrived and we are working by seven with a piece of fruit to sustain us until breakfast at 10:45.
We manage to get my eldest son out of bed and working by 8:30 and his eyes are swollen from lack of sleep. This is the first year that he is really involved in the exit process. He resents the work, the change and what he sees as the intrusion. My husband and I are holding up well.
I have set a goal for us to be off the second floor (bedrooms) completely so that the cleaning staff can clean easily, thoroughly and quickly. The cleaning staff arrives at 10:00, starts on the third floor bath and we are off the second floor by 10:45 and take our breakfast break. Every time we eat in the last two days, it has been an exercise in cleaning out the fridge. This time is no different. My son is not thrilled with his breakfast.
Everything we are taking with us is piled in the dining room, adjacent to the kitchen and near the back door exit. We are literally making our way out the door. One of the renters shows up at noon, saying that she was told she could move in then. I politely remind her that the lease says 3pm and that we need all the time allotted. I escort her back to the front door, close the door and go back to work.
And now for the kitchen and the fridge. For how much room the fridge takes up in our home, it remains the most intense work area. We sort food to be tossed, food to go into the cooler to be transported to my mom's fridge, food to be moved to the downstairs fridge and then we repeat the process with the freezer. I make decisions as to the foods' destiny and my son and husband execute. Then my son and husband take out every shelf and drawer and clean it in soapy water, rinse, dry and replace it. My six year old calls from my mom's missing us and asking if I could bring over his wallet, his money for the bank and his Buzz Light Year piggy bank. I have remembered the first two and promise to do my best on the third. We miss him too and will be reunited by 3:30.
At some point, I head over to Target and purchase the king size sheets. I make the trip in a succinct 35 minutes and they work great. The cleaning people are efficient, pleasant and flexible and the five of us work around and with each other for the last two hours to make our 3pm goal. We all are doing what it takes to get the job done. In the morning, my son had the occasional breakdown that I got him through but now with 90 minutes left, there is no sign of that. After every job is completed, he says, "what's next?" If only.
At 2:53 the renter shows up again and I invite her to sit on the porch. We are wiping the last counter, vacuuming the kitchen floor and straightening the last pillow.
The house looks pristine; no signs of clutter, plenty of sparkle and ready for inspection.
My husband, son and I take everything out to the van and come back in to welcome the renters. By this time, the other two renters are gathering on the front porch and I welcome them in at 3:03pm.
I thank and pay the wonderful cleaning people and then take up my job as tour guide. The women seemed pleased as I show them around, explain appliances and go over security. My husband takes over the technology part of the tour and exchanges phone numbers. I give the garden tour as I will be watering while in town at my mom's and they will be in charge while we travel.
We climb into the car and head over to my mom's, a mere mile away, and look forward to showers and lunch. I know for a fact that I smell and look like I smell. The renters looked surprised when I said we were professional dancers. We arrive at my mom's, gather our younger son in our arms and have sandwiches and showers. My husband heads out the door an hour later to teach at 5pm. I am in awe of his stamina and calm. I opt to go out to dinner with my mom and the kids.
A week has gone by since our dramatic exit and now we experience the aftermath of our move. Currently the checkbook, my younger son's socks, my bathing suit bottoms and some cash are still at large. We manage to miss my son's eye appointment twice, have yet to complete the taxes and make my mother cry within three days of our arrival. However, like a new mom who vows never to go through childbirth again, we have forgotten the pain and are readying ourselves for next year's rental.
I have set a goal for us to be off the second floor (bedrooms) completely so that the cleaning staff can clean easily, thoroughly and quickly. The cleaning staff arrives at 10:00, starts on the third floor bath and we are off the second floor by 10:45 and take our breakfast break. Every time we eat in the last two days, it has been an exercise in cleaning out the fridge. This time is no different. My son is not thrilled with his breakfast.
Everything we are taking with us is piled in the dining room, adjacent to the kitchen and near the back door exit. We are literally making our way out the door. One of the renters shows up at noon, saying that she was told she could move in then. I politely remind her that the lease says 3pm and that we need all the time allotted. I escort her back to the front door, close the door and go back to work.
And now for the kitchen and the fridge. For how much room the fridge takes up in our home, it remains the most intense work area. We sort food to be tossed, food to go into the cooler to be transported to my mom's fridge, food to be moved to the downstairs fridge and then we repeat the process with the freezer. I make decisions as to the foods' destiny and my son and husband execute. Then my son and husband take out every shelf and drawer and clean it in soapy water, rinse, dry and replace it. My six year old calls from my mom's missing us and asking if I could bring over his wallet, his money for the bank and his Buzz Light Year piggy bank. I have remembered the first two and promise to do my best on the third. We miss him too and will be reunited by 3:30.
At some point, I head over to Target and purchase the king size sheets. I make the trip in a succinct 35 minutes and they work great. The cleaning people are efficient, pleasant and flexible and the five of us work around and with each other for the last two hours to make our 3pm goal. We all are doing what it takes to get the job done. In the morning, my son had the occasional breakdown that I got him through but now with 90 minutes left, there is no sign of that. After every job is completed, he says, "what's next?" If only.
At 2:53 the renter shows up again and I invite her to sit on the porch. We are wiping the last counter, vacuuming the kitchen floor and straightening the last pillow.
The house looks pristine; no signs of clutter, plenty of sparkle and ready for inspection.
My husband, son and I take everything out to the van and come back in to welcome the renters. By this time, the other two renters are gathering on the front porch and I welcome them in at 3:03pm.
I thank and pay the wonderful cleaning people and then take up my job as tour guide. The women seemed pleased as I show them around, explain appliances and go over security. My husband takes over the technology part of the tour and exchanges phone numbers. I give the garden tour as I will be watering while in town at my mom's and they will be in charge while we travel.
We climb into the car and head over to my mom's, a mere mile away, and look forward to showers and lunch. I know for a fact that I smell and look like I smell. The renters looked surprised when I said we were professional dancers. We arrive at my mom's, gather our younger son in our arms and have sandwiches and showers. My husband heads out the door an hour later to teach at 5pm. I am in awe of his stamina and calm. I opt to go out to dinner with my mom and the kids.
A week has gone by since our dramatic exit and now we experience the aftermath of our move. Currently the checkbook, my younger son's socks, my bathing suit bottoms and some cash are still at large. We manage to miss my son's eye appointment twice, have yet to complete the taxes and make my mother cry within three days of our arrival. However, like a new mom who vows never to go through childbirth again, we have forgotten the pain and are readying ourselves for next year's rental.
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