We Are Home

The hurricane saga is almost over.

Our immediate goal was to get ourselves and our belongings home in one trip. We rented a truck one-way, choosing one that was otherwise unnecessarily large, because only a large truck could tow Joel's Accord.

Wednesday we started packing the rental truck in earnest. The process went so slowly that we wondered if we would be able to do it ourselves. First, the vacuum cleaner, whose performance has deteriorated steadily since we bought it, stopped picking up any debris at all. That meant that we could not use the carpet cleaning products that we had bought. Not good with four dogs in the apartment. We hope that the substantial damage fee that we paid for the four dogs will cover the shampooing.

After driving the truck back to the apartment from the rental facility, Joel was so uncomfortable maneuvering the truck that he decided that there was no way he could tow the Honda behind the truck as we had planned. He decided to fly back to Houston Thursday from Metairie to pick up the Honda and drive it home. We were still stuck with the large truck, which was unnecessarily large, given the sparseness of our Houston furnishings.

How many PhDs does it take to load a moving truck? Joel believed that the three computer desks should be packed first because they were heavy. I argued that, given their dimensions, they were not really that heavy; i.e., that it was their density that was more important, and that several boxes of books and other personal belongings were likely to be heavier, given the same footprint. After insisting for two days that removing the tops of the computer desks would make them lighter and more maneuverable, Joel finally acknowleged that even removing the top would not make it posssible for us to load a desk onto the moving dolly and slide it out the apartment door.

We started calling labor pools. Unclear how many additional hours would elapse before moving men even arrived, we considered the relatively low cost of the desks ($100 each) vs. the cost of movers (at least $175). As we cannot fit the three desks in our house anyway (we thought Joel might be able to use one in his new office, once he found an office), we decided to leave the yet pristine desks in the apartment. Perhaps some the apartment complex's employees might be able to take them home.

We packed everything that we could lift into the truck, and in any order possible. It was already early afternoon. I wanted to flee with the animals and leave the mess behind me, but I felt it would be disloyal even to suggest that idea. Joel himself suggested that I take the birds, the computers, and the three large dogs and hit the road. It was already three p.m.

An hour into the trip, one of the bird cages fell forward off the bench seat, spraying seed and drinking water across the van interior. At least the birds were unhurt. I got in by nine, but Katie and Joel arrived hours later. As well as the three computer desks, Joel left behind a folding console table, the new toaster oven, the pooper scoopers, and the bread box (at latest count.) There was a lot of food that had to be discarded because it would not fit into our small ice chest.

Joel flew back to Houston the next morning to pick up his car, so Katie and I had to unload the truck ourselves. Within minutes of starting the process, I twisted my ankle, Katie pulled a box back onto her toenail, and the dogs got out and ran loose in the neighborhood. I wanted to call a friend to see if he could round up some folks to help us unpack the truck, but I discovered his phone number was no longer in my cell phone. My Palm Pilot (where I keep my contact list) needed recharging and I had no way to charge it, and my computer wasn't online yet. It could only get better, right?

But we're back. The dogs were ecstatic to be home, and--particularly with my bad ankle--I was happy to have the doggie door and not need to let them in and out all day. We still have the old refrigerator full of rotting food in our kitchen, but it is sealed and not malodorous. We visited three different stores today, and did not find any refrigerators in black that would fit our space. But Katie is registered for school, we bought her uniforms, and the process of re-establishing ourselves is well underway. Tomorrow morning the new schedule will be posted at PetWorld, and I will learn how soon I get to test my ankle on a new job.