Moving to a New Perspective

by K_REY_C | More from this Blogger

Do you ever dread doing something so much that you can think up any excuse imaginable to avoid it? Moving is one of those things for me. Digging through years of piled up papers, disorganized drawers, and those bins filled with items you swore you "needed" the last time you moved but have rested untouched.

This past Monday morning my wife and I moved to a slightly larger rental property in anticipation of the birth of our first child, Cillian, who we expect to meet around August 13th. Our past moves included our daring adventure with radios to communicate between the old Saturn and the older rental truck for the 1000 mile journey to our new home in Texas three years ago.

Our second move was inevitable when we opened the door to our unseen apartment after that 1000 mile trek. When my wife looked into the door, saw the rather close walls and said, "that's it!?" I knew we'd be moving after the 1 year lease was up. During both of these moves my wife and I did it all ourselves: lifting, transporting, straining and self-medicating. Since my wife is now 7 months pregnant we needed a different plan this time. Enter my friends.

My wife and I spent the week before the move identifying the items we would be unable to move in our tiny Honda. We also spent the week loading plastic totes full of books (which teachers and students tend to have a lot of) and other items (pans, computers, etc.) to make the moving that much faster. This was, however, the fastest move we've ever completed.

The move was in-town, so distance wasn't a time factor (aside from the per mile charge on the rental truck) but we rented the truck at 7:30 a.m. and returned the truck at 10:50 a.m. That's one fast move! We ended up having 4 friends help us move but we learned something about planning: do it! We moved all of the full totes and larger items into the main room (next to the front door) prior to our helpers arriving and this single action made all the difference. There was no confusion about what needed to be moved. No time was spent identifying what was going to be moved so time was saved by just moving.

And how did we lure these friends to help us move? We promised doughnuts, bagels, coffee, milk, tea, orange juice and later on pizza and soda. Now we're just playing "utility-tag" with phone, internet, and gas. We don't have hot water yet and I've spent hours on the phone trying to be able to take a warm shower.

Question: What does this have to do with being a dad?

Answer: I had a revelation. I hate moving for all of the reasons mentioned above but I'm willing to do it. Do you know what I saw today? My wife put all of our sons clothes on hangers in his little closet. There it was: proof of my son's existence in my life. Yes, he had kicked at me through the womb before but here was physical proof that he would be living with us soon. He would be a separate entity from my wife and I in a very distinct and clear way. In short, more sacrifices will be necessary. I'll have to do more things I don't want to do for the ultimate benefit of my son. I'd better get used to it. That's my life lesson for the day.

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Kyle is a husband, father, graduate student, playwright, dramaturg, actor, graphic designer, instructor, technology enthusiast, excel master, and friend.

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