So much happened today that it's difficult for me to set it all down in words. We had so many helping hands, each doing something productive, that it would take an individual weblog entry for each person to do justice for her.

Brevity will have to do.

Thanks to:

Jeff, who met met at Custom Box at 8:30 to load Dad's old table-saw onto the truck, and to pick stuff up at Mom's. Jeff not only drove the truck for us, he also supervised loading and unloading (getting all of our stuff in one load). Thanks, Jeff!

Paul and Susan, who showed up at our house an hour before the scheduled move time. Paul's energy was a godsend as he worked tirelessly, hauling boxes to and fro. Susan, whom we've now only met twice, also worked hard for people she barely knows. She came up with a couple of great ideas to make the move easier, too. Thanks, Paul and Susan!

Tony, who also showed up early for the move. Tony pitched in with his muscles, and he also helped out with his mind, taking charge of situations that otherwise would have proved frustrating. For example, Tony was the one who supervised the installation of the refrigerator, a task that would have forced me to surrender. Thanks, Tony!

Dave and Andrew, who drove all the way to Canby to help us load stuff for the move. Each one lent expertise to some aspect of packing that made the job easier. Then, for the rest of the day, they devoted themselves to the repair of the threshold to the back porch. Their painstaking work resulted in a beautiful repair. I must admit I'm impressed. Thanks, Dave and Andrew.

Joel and Aimee, who came early to the new house and started right in peeling wallpaper, a task they'd already helped with yesterday! They also lent their muscles to the seemingly-endless task of hauling boxes full of books across the lawn, into the house, up the stairs, and back to the library. Thanks, Joel and Aimee!

Karen and Courtney, who — once we learned the wallboards would have to be removed (see below) — attacked the walls with a zeal uncommon to mortal women. They were simply gleeful at the prospect of ripping sheetrock from the walls. Andrew had to pry Courtney — who is pregnant! — away at the end of the day. Thanks, Karen and Courtney!

Pierre, who came to repay a moving debt from years ago. Pierre was a trooper; he always seemed to be carrying the heaviest of boxes, at one point toting a box I thought would have been difficult for two people. Thanks, Pierre!

Celeste, whom I'd never met (but whom Kris is training at work), who not only helped us move boxes, but stuck around (!!!) to help Karen and Courtney tear apart the walls. Thanks, Celeste! (I owe you.)

Mac and Pam, who showed up bearing watermelon (always a good sign). Mac lended a hand with the big, bulky items. Pam, who took a break from studying for her boards, helped set up racks in the basement. She also videotaped some of the event, and helped keep Harrison and Emma occupied and out from under foot. Thanks, Mac and Pam!

Darrel, who made a brief but valuable appearance, coming just in time to help lug boxes from the truck to the house. His able hands reduced the workload for everybody else. Thanks, Darrel!

Jenn, who arrived in the nick of time with a fancy spread of fresh fruit and sandwich fixings and cold drinks. Jenn spent the afternoon assisting Kris, doing lots of little things behind the scenes, like helping to set up the bedroom so that it would be usable tonight. Thanks, Jenn!

Harrison and Emma, who actually behaved very well almost the entire day. Emma really wasn't much help, it's true, but Harrison was eager to pitch in. He helped Aimee carry things up the stairs, and later it was difficult to keep him from the shop-vac: he loved to vacuum all the nails and sheetrock. Thanks, Hank and Scout!

Wendy, who came by in the middle of the afternoon bearing a bag full of popsicles. Her appearance heralded a welcome break, and her cheery smile helped lighten the workload. Thanks, Wendy!

Rhonda and Mike, our new neighbors, who stopped by at the end of the day to say hello. Rhonda and Kris work together at the lab. It was she who brought the house flyer that put stars in Kris' eyes; Rhonda is the one truly responsible for the fact that we're sleeping in a new room tonight. Mike used to be an electrician. With much enthusiasm, he explained to me the two different types of wiring to the outlets downstairs, and showed me how best to remove the outlet boxes in preparation for having the floors refinished. Thanks, Rhonda and Mike!

Jeremy, who came by after work for his first tour of the place. Jeremy didn't actually get a chance to do anything but pull off some token wall-boards, but I'm sure that I'll be calling upon his able hands and vast knowledge in the future. Thanks in advance, Jeremy!

Thanks to all twenty-two of you who helped make this move so easy, and to the three of you who helped on previous days. We appreciate it more than you could possibly know.

Thank you.

On this day at foldedspace.org

2005 — Sunny Sunday   We passed a slow and lazy weekend, the kind I love so much.

2003 — Please Please Please   In so very many ways I was a typical angst-filled teenager of the mid-1980s. I never bought all the way in, though: I didn't like The Smiths.

2002 — Crow in the Road   Can animals become suicidal?

2001 — Nostalgic Reveries   There are four or five primary sources of nostalgia for me, all of the women who were, at one time, close friends.