and so, its done.

There are good and bad parts about living in denial until you are actually moving your belongings from a house.

I'm pretty honest with you internet. But there were times last week, when I cried. A lot. Like I'd grab a guitar from the Wii and think "I'll just play a quick REM song and I'll be fine!"

Except then I'd think how that house, was the one I loved...and this song was going out to the house I love. And it made me feel like pouring table salt directly into my eyeballs just to make the tears come faster because it was so emotionally painful I wanted to feel it physically.

But for the most part I spent last week packing a box or two and then wondering why I was packing a box because, I was not moving.

Then Friday morning came and Logan flipped our mattress up on its side....inexplicably.

I spent a couple of hours thinking about why my husband would flip our mattress up on its side. And then a moving truck showed up at our house. Next, the moving truck got stuck at the end of our driveway. A moving truck stuck in our driveway made it difficult to practice my brand of denial. Surprisingly, not impossible.

I was still under the impression that this move could not happen. The moving truck trying to climb over a snow bank at the end of the driveway kind of gave me hope that fate was on my side.

The problem with moving when you're practicing Extreme Denial is you don't actually pack anything when you're preparing for a pretend move. You tend to think you'll "pretend pack" when the "pretend move" is closer.

As a result of this denial, we packed our family in the jankiest way possible. We came up with a jingle...."Janky Moving....DOT COM!" it was that janky.

I actually moved a jacket.

No, not a set of jackets. I moved a jacket. A single coat.

In one set of trips I moved a pair of scissors, a globe from Max's room and a sweater. Then I felt bad about moving so few things in a trip so I also brought a spoon.

So we're here. And it's not like a plague of locusts fell from the sky.

So that's good.

Comments

[Hayley]

See? You can look on the bright side. That's an accomplishment.

I can't look on that side. Found out I'm having twins. Preparing to suffocate myself.

[HouseofJules]

I'm impressed you didn't connect the mattress flipping with the soda-trashing. You're a better woman than I, Melissa Summers! Moving sucks, but you're holding up well! Hang in there!
Jules
House of Jules

[Toni]

I don't know you, but come here dear, let me pet your hair. It will all work out ok. You are alive, you are still breathing. Hang in there, and drink lots of tequila. Throw a house warming party, presents make everything better.

[LB]

Hang in there Melissa, I know this has been really shitty, but hopefully soon you will find that in fact it is not really all that shitty, but if in case it does actually wind up being super shitty........start planning your next course of action, live in denial and drink heavily. Well, that works for me anyway. Hugs!!

[Miss Grace]

I'm sincerely hoping that your move turns out to be for the best.

[Mental Momma]

You get huge bonus points for proper use of the word janky. I love that word.

Buck up, the worst is behind you now...

[Sus]

Done and done. Now all that's left is to cozy it up and pretend you moved straight there in the first place - giving new meaning to the words "dream house".
Sorry you have to go through this:(

[Lindsay]

I love the visual of you moving a jacket... and then later a globe, a sweater, scissors and for good measure... a spoon. I have totally moved the same way.

You'll love living in walking distance to town. The RO St Patty's Parade is coming up... walk on in, pick up a coffee (make it Irish) and enjoy.

Good luck!

[kbreints]

yep...cros town moves are the worst...I have moved 'jankily' many times.

Just don't start driving by your old place.... that may become creepy.

[Melissa]

I hope that the move holds some pleasant surprises and I think the suggestion of a housewarming party, one of those casual who-cares-if-there-are-still-unpacked-boxes let's-drink-some-wine kind of housewarming parties, is a great idea.

[Just Beachy]

Just think, once you wake up and realize that this actually is your now house, you can come back and complain about the old landlord... We are waiting for that.

[carosgram]

Just imagine I am there holding you and patting your back saying, "There, there, it will be all right". When my mom did that for me I always felt a little better.

[Lisame]

I'm still having trouble accepting that moving is possible in snow? Snow? On the ground? Moving truck? moving a house in the snow? I've NEVER heard of such a thing.

[Alice]

Yay for no locusts! And congratulations on making it through - leaving places you love is fucking hard, even when you know that it's for the good in the end.

[April]

I'm moving as well. Dont want to leave this location. But do want to leave this house. And VERY MUCH want to leave this landlord.

At least you know someone else is in the same boat.

Also, I agree with the commenter from a few posts ago. For the life of me I can't figure out how to scroll to your second page of comments.

Any tips, people?

[Terri]

DUDE! Chill out and learn some coping techniques. You sound like you honestly need help and if you are trying to be funny, it is not working.
Your poor kids! What wrecks they are going to be...

[bridget]

terri can suck it!

your getting through it one jankity box at a time. We did the same type of move this fall.
I'm on the other side of the valley girl and the view is grand. Come on over! its worth it!

[Ginny]

I moved so jankily once (right next door) that the movers were actually pissed. Lots of laundry baskets 'o crap. Not a good day. Good luck in the new digs.

[Ani]

The locusts are in the box marked: cleaning supplies. Don't go near it. :-)

[Becky]

Seriously. Why in the world would someone comment on someone else's blog just to be an ass? Melissa freely admits she doesn't cope well. Is it that hard to just stop reading the blog? After the whole momversation drama at Finslippy and Mighty Girl I am finding it hard to understand my fellow blog readers.

[darcy]

Um, it wouldn't be much of a conversation or a post if everyone agreed.
Moving sucks, I agree with that.
See no controversy.

[BOSSY]

Hey, do you think you might find time in your busy post-moving schedule to marry Bossy? Because you are *that* great.

[Katie]

I'm tempted to drive up to MI and deliver a plate of brownies as "welcome to the neighborhood" gift. (I got 4 plates of them when we moved back to IN. *shrugs*) But there's snow on the ground and it's stalker-ish in the first place.

[DesireeK]

Well, when you're belting out "Everybody Hurts" on the Wii, it does not tend to make you feel better. Big hugs, sweetie.

[Kate]

A new adventure begins. Good luck.

[Suebob]

My mantra to cheer myself up lately is "at least you don't live under the Taliban."

Yep, that is how much fun things are. BUT THE TALIBAN IS WORSE!

[KYouell]

I second the bring-on-the-landlord-stories motion. I could use a laugh.

[J's mom]

Delurking to say I had to Google the word janky. I think I have a new favorite word. Am I the only one who's NEVER heard this?!

And Melissa, from another woman who tends to flip over things that are really not big in the grand scheme of life, this too shall pass. I know you know that. Keep your chin up.

[Stewbie]

Moving sucks--no matter HOW you look at it.

You know, I grew up in the Royal Oak/Madison Hgts area. My parents went to Lamphere HS. :) I went to Lessinger Elementary. My grama still lives on 13 mile. :)

It's a nice area--you'll love it. You'll fit in. You'll meet several great people that you'll be able to create new memories with. If i were there, i'd help you unpack.

((hugs)) Stewbie

[Mary]

Sigh.....it helps me to put a time limit on depression. As in, I will be totally miserable for three weeks. Then on to the next chapter in the book.

Hang in there! The west coast is beautiful! It's going to be in the sixties today (low) and sunny. You have a goal!

[Mary]

Oh yeah! Can't wait for the landlord stories!

[Laurie]

Hey Melissa:

I orginally found your site from one of those I-hate-my-life-and-am-jealous-of-yours-so-I-will-start-a-blog-and-embarrass-myself-by-ridiculing-others. Honestly, finding you and dooce through that sad site is one reason to be grateful that losers like that exist.

Sorry that this move is happening, but based on how you've dealt with all the shit that's been thrown at you -- you'll not only persevere, you'll be better because of it.

Hang in there and know that there is a lot of love out here for you.

Laurie

[Cat]

At the risk of "one upping" you here, I once moved into a new apartment we selected in order to accomodate our first child, then lost the pregnancy half-way through the move. And still had to, you know, move and stuff.

Hang in there, you'll love the new place, I can feel it.

[Melissa Summers]

Cat, I'm so sorry. I can't even imagine. I feel so emotionally drained right now just from a silly move. I would not have been able to pick myself up after something like that.

[Cori]

Delurking to say I feel your pain. We had to move about a year ago for my husband to take a great job opportunity. Had to sell the house I loved at a substantial loss. Oh and did I mention I found out I was pregnant (not planned - first child was only 5 mos) at the same time?

If the new employer hadn't picked up the tab for movers that did all the packing we would have just moved piles of jackets too. I didn't pack a single box.

The good news is that a year later my husband still loves the new job. And the new city is a much better place to raise kids. (Moved from LA to SF Bay Area.) I'm still lonely and stuff, but with two babies now I don't have much time to think about it. (Pout!)

n

[Geri]

Done? I loved the denial post. Now I can't even imagine who packed it all up. Did you go into Tazmanian Devil Mode at the end, and spin it all into boxes?

You mentioned you liked unpacking and organizing -- is that happening. Or are you catatonic and repeating "buh buh buh" like Goldie Hawn in "Overboard"?

I feel your pain.

Maybe this will help . . .

This cannot be the end of your story.

[Marcy]

OK...
Now that you are gone..I have to tell you in the most UNstalkerish way possible... I had always hoped that one day while on your end of town, I would bump into you.. You know like at Trader Joes or somthing.. (repeat not a creepster! )
Love your blog.. and from one Michigander to another (former) Michigander .. I really do wish you all the best..

[Melissa Summers]

I can't even see my second page of comments. Gah. I don't even know how to fix that.

Marcy, I haven't left the area. I'm just a few blocks south now. We moved in order to save money and live wiser and (maybe) relocate to another state in a couple of years.

[Natalie]

Yikes - moving is an ordeal enough without having snow in the equation. I feel for you!

[Andrea]

Terri, there's a lot worse things kids can endure than watching their mom express emotions.

Maybe they'll grow up realizing that people actually [gasp] express emotions, such as sadness on occasion.

[We've met, but your husbands family would kill me if they new i read this]

Hey I know the feeling of that move, it is hard, but things will feel new and keep your mind going for a while. Make the best of it, things will turn around and soon you can worry about the little things again! My heart is with you on moving, I still miss my old place, but when one door closes...