birch road blog

Leaving Abita

Even though i didn't load a single box onto the moving truck, moving day was grueling. Thanks to the moving angels, Michelle, Rachel, and Marianne who came and helped pack, clean, and comfort me as everything left the house. Finn, Jay and i walked through the house one final time, all empty and clean, touching the walls, the door knobs, the door frame that marked finn's height from as soon as he could stand at 10 months to 12 yrs, making thanks and leaving tears behind. Jay bent down and kissed the old floor boards by the front door before we walked out.

Goodnight hall. Goodnight high-wood-walls.
Goodnight windows of leaded glass, goodnight pine floors and drafty cracks.
Goodnight sweet transom in morning light
Goodnight crown molding painted white.
Goodnight bay dining room once filled with life.
Goodnight laurel street house, sleep tight.

We spent the night at Ruth and Phillip's in their fabulous, huge green-tree-draped basement apartment. They fed us the most delicious comfort food meal of baked chicken, sweet corn, creole tomatoes, and blueberry pie to die for. The next day i tramped over to Mary Ruth's for a cup of coffee and a goodbye hug while the guys slept in. Eventually, with a load in and on the pathfinder, we showed up at the title company for the closing. The Pattersons, the family buying our Laurel street home, are wonderful. They will fit right in to the Abita lifestyle and make great neighbors for everyone. This is code for...they are democrats! As our final gesture as St. tammany parish residents, we took a shoe box of loose change to the Sav-a-Center in Mandeville and cashed it in for about $140 paper dollars. This paid for a good portion of our road trip

posted by Kathryn @ 9:12 AM