I’m sitting in a den that looks like it has been ransacked.
The desk Dad made me is gone.
My best/comfiest office chair is gone.
My keyboard is sitting on my lap as I do my best to type this.
(It’s a chore, typing this way!)
The good news is that Lisa has the desk and office chair and her brother Doug has the recliner that was in my living room.
I ate dinner –porcupine meatball leftovers — in Jackie’s side of the house because I have no surface to put the plate on unless I stand and eat…
Yeah, it’s a weird feeling to be at home with pretty much NOTHING familiar in any of the rooms!
The furniture movie went very well
My niece and nephew did the heavy lifting (the desk, cabinet and recliner) and it only took one trip using both our vehicles to get the items over to her location.
Then we went to Anglea’s for our final meal at that location. It’s a retro diner in my neck of the woods. Lisa says she will probably never go there again because it will be too sad to go without me. (Waaahh! Stop that, Lisa!)
After that, we came back here to my place and just vegged, chatted and played Mexican Trains with Jackie until Lisa took her leave at about 3 p.m. so she could get her office/den put back together before dinnertime.
She texted me not long after saying that she loved sitting at my desk because it feels like a little piece of me and helps her feel like I will always be nearby. (WAAAHHH! Stop that, Lisa!)
We’re gonna be soggy messes at the airport when we have to say goodbye for five long months. She will be flying down in February to help commemorate my 75th birthday. My birthday isn’t until early March but flights are a fraction of the cost in February than they are in March, so “Come sooner!!!” works for me on two fronts! I’m gonna miss her like crazy, even given our ability to interact virtually thanks to technology.(We connected by video on WhatsApp today to be sure we both know how to do that before I fly away…)
Lisa’s brother will be getting my desktop PC and CPU and mouse and modem and Lisa will be getting my Canon printer, but not until tomorrow night or Wednesday. I want to print out my airline ticket (at least a virtual copy) before I give up the printer…
Tomorrow I Say Goodbye to Patches — WAAH!
Tomorrow when Lisa leaves for the night I will be saying a final farewell to Patches, “our” mutual 22-year-old cat. Lisa had her the first twelve years; I’ve had her the last ten years. So, tonight will be the last night she shares my bed and pillow. I know I’m gonna cry. I will never be able to hold her again.
Leaving Pets and Hens Behind Is Hard
Geriatric/ancient cats aren’t allowed on planes — and even if they were, one of the cats would have had to fly in cargo, and I simply wouldn’t put a beloved feline through that much trauma.
Leaving pets is harder than leaving (most) people because I know I’ll never see them again. (I don’t ever plan to return to the U.S.) There is always the possibility that I will see most of the people I love again, as they can visit me in Costa Rica… and a great many intend to. Plus, again, we humans have technology that allows us to visit virtually when we can’t visit in actuality. I’d feel abjectly miserable about leaving if that weren’t an option!
I’m Weary Tonight
My vehicle goes to its new owner at 10 tomorrow morning and then Lisa and I are going to the Point Defiance Aquarium if it’s open. I think I remember that it’s closed on Tuesdays, but I could be wrong. I’ll sign off for the night and look it up before I hit the hay.
If we go, I’ll take pictures!
Addendum: Yesterday at 1 Yolanda Red Smith Markle and I shared a farewell lunch at El Toro Restaurant on Canyon Road; her treat. We had a wonderful time and she promises to come visit me in CR after I get settled in there. And yes, I remembered to get a selfie of us!
August 31, 2025
Gads, we look like sisters here!