Sunday, March 16, 2008

Endings and Beginnings

In my in box yesterday was an e-mail from JuJu. It read: 'Movers here around 10:30 a.m. Come on up.' Her message was written long before the sun was up, but she was awake and preparing for her day. She had traveled the road between homes for long enough, and finally that would change. For JuJu, it was an ending and a beginning.

As circumstances change in our lives, we must at times change with the circumstances. Change can be a good thing. Some of the adaptations we make seem small, others huge. For JuJu, the move is a good thing, but it also seems to close a chapter in all our lives.

As friends do, Grace and I arrived at JuJu's house to help her with last minute little chores and to be there for her. The movers arrived and starting loading the remainder of her furniture. Grace and I followed behind with the sweeper trying to help JuJu get the home spic and span for the new owner's arrival. Those little places behind the big pieces of furniture needed a little attention. I was reminded of what I need to be doing at my own home.

We managed to sit here and there to have a feast of Sonic hamburgers and fries. With the front door having been wide open and the outside temperature in the low fifties, that nice warm Sonic burger tasted exquisite.... warmth to the tummy and heart. We love our comfort foods.

At last the truck pulled away with every last thing on it. JuJu, Grace, and I hugged and promised we'd visit. We said that it would be strange driving by the house and knowing it had a new owner. We've had lots of good times there. We've also spent lots of time there painting and fixing to sell the home. JuJu is blessed not to have to worry about the huge acreage that cost a fortune to mow or took hours of her time to mow. She doesn't have to worry about all the homeowner things on the house any more. That part has ended. She had said for a long time that the house just didn't feel like home any more, so we knew that she had moved on.

In my in box this morning was an e-mail from JuJu written yesterday evening. She had made her three hour drive and was home fine. She had unpacked her pickup, and one of the grandchildren was there eating chicken tenders and watching a Scooby Doo DVD. She admitted to feeling she was fading fast, so was hoping her son would arrive soon to claim the little one. Her life is a busy one with three grandchildren, her sons and a daughter-in-law. She won't have many moments to call her own. She is already making memories in her new place and fully into the new chapter in her life.

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