No More Hustle: All Flow

 

The research papers were graded; the discussion posts logged. The nine day slow-motion swoon of goodbyes and “short visits” was drawing to a close. In the fridge, the crisper drawers had been emptied and washed out. At midnight, the windowsills received a vacuuming. Blessedly, the kids had sleepovers at friends’ houses, so we’d been able to make thirty uninterrupted trips to the basement, carrying fans, chairs, baskets, tubs, Legos, balls, bedding.

By two a.m., I’d entered my grades for summer classes with the registrar and wiped off three years of dust from the molding behind a bathroom shelf.

Nearing packing completion, paperwork in order, a salutary sunset run through the trees completed, torso covered with dried sweat,

I eyed the house’s one remaining in-use mattress and marveled at the peace that accompanies lack of stuff. Spartanism charms.

A simple pan downwards, though, reveals the barely-contained chaos

of a family’s possessions, massed,

enjoying new intimacies.

May the next year for them be as it will for us–

peppered with new friendships–

daring the unexpected leap–

realizing the interconnectedness of all things.

I sagged into the mattress and marveled one more time at the stack of luggage, staged and ready to be loaded into a trailer, pulled behind a mini-van, and driven south for a few days before ricocheting much further east.

Sleep evulsed consciousness, but not before I noted to the congregated suitcases, “Wow, you boys are hecka lotta stuff for a family of four to be dragging around. Are you sure some of you wouldn’t rather go have a nice, stimulating year in the basement, maybe join a fraternity, hit a few parties?”

Taking their stolid silence as a vote for enriching world travel over beer bongs, I faded to black,

arising a few hours later to push the mattress down the stairs, mop the floors with vinegar, and help my husband sit on and compress our overflowing garbage can in the alley.

When we pulled out of town some hours later, tshirts still wet with perspiration, we kept our eyes glued to the double yellow line of the road ahead–

resolutely refusing to glance back and see if the ravens were already pecking through our leavings.

Comments

comments

Comments

19 responses to “No More Hustle: All Flow”

  1. Jenn @ Juggling Life Avatar
    Jenn @ Juggling Life

    I'm so envious that you are bold enough to do this amazing thing. It will be fantastic and I will live vicariously!

    Also, you're damn lucky to have a basement.

  2. flutter Avatar
    flutter

    I am really proud of you. Does that seem strange?

  3. Deborah Avatar
    Deborah

    My gut clenched in sympathetic anticipation, possibly mixed with a tiny bit of apprehension.

    Emptying out a house on a deadline is a very stressful experience, but what a compensation awaits you! Not just a year in Asia Minor, but a return to a familiar and empty house, and a new appreciation for the fine art of living minimally, perhaps.

    I have to hand it to you, Jocelyn et al, you're not afraid to jump in with both feet. My thoughts and very best wishes will accompany you on your journey and I can hardly wait to see those posts from Turkey. Bon voyage! A Bientôt!

  4. unmitigated me Avatar
    unmitigated me

    What an amazing thing. What will you do if you find you have not missed the things that are downstairs?

  5. ds Avatar
    ds

    I think you packed very well for a family of four going away for a year. Have a wonderful, wonderful time, send periodic updates (please?) & don't worry about the stuff in the basement. The "frat party" isn't until next week 😉

    Bon voyage!

  6. secret agent woman Avatar
    secret agent woman

    That is both sad and exciting. You guys are going to have an amazing adventure.

  7. kmkat Avatar
    kmkat

    Wow. Just… wow.

    May you have fair winds and following seas, and the year of a lifetime.

  8. lime Avatar
    lime

    and thus it begins…

    the first steps of what is sure to be an amazing journey for you all.

  9. Star Avatar
    Star

    Safe trip.

  10. monica Avatar
    monica

    Europe definitely welcomes The One With A Great Way With Words and Observations included Groom, Girl and Paco !! Hooray! and off they went!

  11. geewits Avatar
    geewits

    And so it begins.

  12. Jazz Avatar
    Jazz

    That's just so exciting! Can't wait to hear your first impressions of Turkey.

  13. jess Avatar
    jess

    Happy Adventure!!!!

  14. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    If you are reading this, you must be in Turkey! Yay! you made it!!!
    Can't wait to hear how the trip went and all of the first impressions. Is it as hot there as it is here??
    alwaysinthebackrow

  15. christopher Avatar
    christopher

    I think that you are the Queen of the multi-task and yet a very wise simplifier.

    I wish you and your family a wonderful journey and the experience of a lifetime.

  16. choochoo Avatar
    choochoo

    for a second there, I thought I saw something in your basement that looked like a coffin. But it wasn't. See? It could be way, way worse.

  17. tattytiara Avatar
    tattytiara

    Pure awesome. Wind at your back, babe!b

  18. Pam Avatar
    Pam

    All the best Joce,Groom, Girl and Paco…exciting times ahead!x

  19. heartinsanfrancisco Avatar
    heartinsanfrancisco

    This reminded me of when Flip and I sold our home in TN and moved to CA with a giant U-Haul truck, crammed, and one cat. The accumulation of many years was unbelievable, although it developed much later that he had left many of my most treasured possessions in the pile for the garbage collectors and brought lots of garbage instead. At least you know where your things are, and hopefully they will benefit from their sabatical as well.

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