After I abandoned the blogosphere a few weeks ago, Dr. G and I began an odyssey that took us across the country first from east to west and then from north to south.  Abandoned work on a Friday; abandoned our stuff to professional movers on a Monday; abandoned our car to its new owners on a Tuesday (not a single key left on the keychain at that point!); abandoned Baltimore by plane on that Tuesday afternoon.

 

In Portland, OR, we picked up a big yellow Penske truck. That is a persuasive vehicle!  It is so high and wide and loud, and above all, yellow!  I love Portland, and the two days we spent hanging out there with, among others, Nerdy Girl and Sumner House Sarah, were sunny and perfect.  The heat wave was just breaking, the streets were shady, and the ambience was so, how-you-say, happening.  Then we trucked south to Salem, home of our alma mater, to visit a few more friends.  Next it was Euguene to pick up more stuff from Dr. G’s parents, as well as visit nearly his entire extended family.  They are stay-in-one-place-for-generations people.  Whenever I am around them, I feel a brief stab of envy.  History! Place! Traditions!  They are among those who have these things in a literal rather than metaphorical or make-them-up-as-you-go-along sense.  But after spending an evening eating well and a morning (ahem) “discussing” how best to ratchet strap the piano, etc, to the side wall of the truck, we pointed our big yellow nose down the road again.  Stopped in Roseburg for breakfast with some cousins.

We trucked on, uninterrupted, to a suburb of Sacramento for a little R-and R with my brother and his family. My two favorite nephews absorbed most of my attention, especially the little one’s knack for lifting his legs, arms, and chest off the ground and holding the position indefinitely.  That’s some serious core strength right there, and he’s only been alive about four months.  The older one kept me busy building forts, telling stories, and playing favorite games, such as “Uncle Gavin Laying on the Floor.”  Apparently this game involves my youngest brother laying on the floor passively and letting the nephew jump all over him.  I was a poor substitute for Uncle Gavin, since I said “Ow! Quit it!” a lot.  I had a nice long dip in the American River, too.

From there it was down to the L.A. area for a night with the newlyweds, who invited us to stay with them despite their newly-wedded state.  Ain’t that sweet? When I was a newlywed I didn’t talk to anyone except the Mr. for about six months, but I’m lame like that. I am happy to report that I repaid the wonderful hospitality of my sister and her man by winning them in a game of Settlers of Catan.  YESSS.

The next day it was across the desert to Phoenix, where we met my parents, who are, as it turns out, a most indespensable duo.  After three days of unpacking and arranging, we’re at the point of ensconsed-ness that usually takes us five weeks to reach.  I won’t even go into how well-packed the storage area is. It’s like magic!