confession of gratitude
My knight in shining armor drives a tractor. It's true. Of course, he has other normal vehicles, but he's most amusing coming down the drive in his tractor. The move in NC is well underway at this point, but there is still plenty to be done. However, progress changed dramatically yesterday when we got a truck and moved furniture out to the storage unit. This was a day long event, and we've loaded the truck twice already, but most of the big pieces of furniture are gone. The largest thing we have left is the washer/dryer. A few days ago one of Mom's neighbors came by and offered to help as much as he could, when he found out there were no movers coming he promised to stop in each day and see what needed to be done. So, he hauled some things off for us, bushwacked part of the yard, and did other odds and ends. Yesterday though he came and helped us with the formidable task of backing the budget truck into position and getting the ramp up onto the back deck so we could walk things out of the house and into the truck without navigating narrow doorways or stairs. Afterwards he stuck around and helped us with the arduous task of loading the truck to capacity and unloading it at the other end, then coming back to help us fill in the next load. All of this was done in good sprits, and he asked for nothing in return. He has been incredibly helpful the past few days and he is planning on coming back again today after the closing to continue helping with whatever we need. Since Emily, Mom, and I are the only people here working on all this, the presence of an extra person, much less a strong man is a very welcome and helpful. Emily and I probably would have died yesterday trying to carry some of the extra large/heavy pieces around ourselves. Although I had met him before and seen him a couple times, yesterday was the first time I actually talked to him at all, and I realized he has a great sense of humor and is very nice. I have a whole new appreciation for him. So, I think it is interesting that the people I might have expected to help didn't (or didn't stay), and the person I didn't consider at all continues to show up at our door willingly when we need help the most. He's a good guy, and I really appreciate all he's done to help us.