My Life, in Unlabeled Boxes

Right n

ow, throughout my house, sits box after box after box. Having moved this past weekend, I can attest to the stress associated with relocating one’s life. It has not be easy; but I guess anything really worthwhile has some sort of effort or work attached to it.

Two days ago, I stood in the middle of my new living room, looked around at the commotion that represented my life and became completely overwhelmed. I would have sat down right there, in the middle of the floor, had I not had an instant flashback to my life almost thirteen years ago when the exact feeling had come over me then, during my last move. I realized quite quickly that what I was feeling was completely normal and was attached to my life sitting about in unlabeled boxes.

Yep, I said unlabeled. I have been preparing for a move for almost two months now. Mentally, that is. I started packing and was very organized in the beginning. I packed away anything that I didn’t think I would need right away and as I did this and the weeks began to pass, I wondered if I really needed that stuff that was packed away, so neatly labeled: Grandmother’s dishes, kids’ artwork, yearbooks from 30 years ago, every file and piece of paper known to man.

The life I needed, the thing’s necessary for my day-to-day were not packed away until the last possible minute and then, time was of the essence…, many boxes went unmarked and packed irresponsibly. The box with my jewelry, make-up and hair products was completely turned upside down and was a sorry mess when I opened it. It was righted quickly enough but the effort set me back a couple hours and, at this point a couple hours means everything.

What is important, what is indispensible for my daily operations came in last place, because of fluff. My family sits in limbo as we settle in and formulate a strategy to regain a normal life. That feeling of being overwhelmed still rides high on my shoulder but now but, every once in a while, I just reach back there and pat it a bit and say, “You’ve been through this before and every day gets easier. “ Thank goodness.

I guess what I take with me from this and hope to pass on is, “Don’t leave those unlabeled boxes unattended to, whether they reside in your heart, occupy your headspace, or are piled about your bedroom. Get to them and knock ‘em out." It only gets better from here.

© by rayannethorn

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Permalink Reply by Sandra McCartt on July 26, 2010 at 1:22pm

The main reason that God made kids is so you can sit in the middle of the floor, have them unpack boxes and direct traffic as to where things go. Think of yourself as the "crap cop" and start directing traffic. It gets to be kind of fun particularly if you grab a glass of white wine. Pretty soon every box is like Christmas if the wine holds out.

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Permalink Reply by Fran Hogan on July 26, 2010 at 1:44pm

Rayanne, I feel your pain! We are in the process of moving from NJ to DE. We close on our home here in NJ on Friday and don't close on our new home until the following week. Our "stuff" will be in storage and we will be moving into then out of a friend's house in Delaware.

I like Sandra's "crap cop" idea but there are no small kids in my house to order around anymore. However, I still apply the wine principle. I'm sure it will be like Christmas when we open up all those "labeled" boxes :-)

Good luck in your new home. May you live many happy, healthy years there.

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Permalink Reply by Sandra McCartt on July 26, 2010 at 1:50pm

Hey Fran, it's summer there are bored kids everywhere, they work cheap. :) I recruited every kid in the neighborhood my last move. They referred to it as "piss anting stuff" when we formed a line of kids that stretched from the boxes in the garage to each room. Pizza and lemonade was the last thing that got passed down the fire line which they thought was hilarious. One 7 year old announced that when the pizza came it must be the end of the job.

Fran Hogan said:

Rayanne, I feel your pain! We are in the process of moving from NJ to DE. We close on our home here in NJ on Friday and don't close on our new home until the following week. Our "stuff" will be in storage and we will be moving into then out of a friend's house in Delaware.

I like Sandra's "crap cop" idea but there are no small kids in my house to order around anymore. However, I still apply the wine principle. I'm sure it will be like Christmas when we open up all those "labeled" boxes :-)

Good luck in your new home. May you live many happy, healthy years there.