I’ll go ahead and tell you that part of my sluggish blogging can be attributed to the fact that I’ve recently moved. Still in Fairhope, just a few miles to a different neighborhood. We’ve been waiting to find something a little larger because even though the boys are starting to leave home, they seem to come back and bring friends — really big friends, so it’s nice to have a guest room and a larger kitchen.
Anyway, I hate to move. And I rarely hate anything, you know, “everything’s an adventure — tra-la-la,” but I really do hate . . . hate . . . hate moving. And now, I’ve once again confirmed why I loath it.
The professional moving company we hired broke (almost) everything. The bedroom dresser mirror — shattered. The large bookcase — gouged. The gate leg antique table — top ripped off. Boxes marked “fragile” were delivered upside down and picture frames, dishes — broken. Silk lampshade — ripped. Then, my husband quietly stood next to me and said, “I’m so sorry, but I broke the bed.” WHAT? We had just bought a new (old- but not quite antique) bed at an estate sale a few months before, anticipating the move. It was a large pencil post bed I’ve wanted for a long time and it took all day to go pick it up. We’d placed it in storage and when he went to get it . . . well, let’s just say it was beyond repair. I took a deep breath and stayed calm.
Then, the last straw, the movers came in with my grandmother’s antique china cabinet — minus one leg. Instead of carrying it, which was what I’ve been able to do with my dainty mother and another man, yet somehow three, young, strong, professional furniture movers couldn’t do . . . they decided to ROLL it – but it only has tiny antique wheels under the legs used for making slight adjustments once it’s in position, not for rolling it up a driveway!!!
I just about lost it. Well, I guess I did loose it. In a nice, calm-ish way. I went into the bathroom and sat on the edge of the tub and tried to cry, but I was too tired to cry. So I sat there in the middle of the boxes with dusty, dry eyes and just tried to breath.
In the midst of all of this, I wasn’t able to unpack much because the damaged furniture had to be sent out for repairs so I had no place to put things. You can see in the photo above that at least the china cabinet is back home. Also, I’m still working on a big writing project, so I sit every day and furiously write with piles of chaos around me.
Okay. Now I’ve had my pity party and I feel better. I’m blessed with my new house and the very nice neighbors. I’m happy that Vacation Bible School is over, which fell in the middle of all of this. I’m blessed with my new writing project, and I’m blessed that the moving company is paying to repair all of the damages. Except for the bed of course. After sleeping on a mattress on the floor for a few weeks, the new bed finally arrived and I’m happy to report that Lois Lane loves it.
Hope you are enjoying your summer too!
Moving is the worst! We had a lot of damage when we moved to Fairhope and the moving company didn’t pay for damages! I am up in Atlanta helping my daughter move to Fairhope – holding my breath!
Good luck with your move. Hope I get to meet your daughter someday soon!
Oh no, I’m so sorry if was such a bad move. Talk about a good reason to get upset that will do it. So happy to hear your china cabinet was repaired and hopefully your other items come home soon. Really, I feel for you. After making many moves for my hubs company we never had anything so bad. Chin up, I know you will be fine. Stay focused and you will back to normal soon. Share a few pics of your new home, I know it will be gorgeous!
Thanks Emily. Once the china cabinet was returned and I got to play with my china, I felt much better!
I’ve moved many times over the years, some out of state and some within the same city but I’ve never heard of the misery that you went through! And I was upset on my last (and final move) when there was a dirt smudge on my white sleeper sofa!
Try to rest and know that it’s over with many beautiful new memories to make in your new home.
For some reason, most people say a local move is much worse than out of state. Is this what you experienced? I think it was just our particular movers. Pity, because they were very, very nice young men!
You poor dear! Moving is indescribably awful! We will have to commiserate over an adult beverage or two and compare stories of “The Move from Hell”. I am glad you got your china closet back all nice and repaired. I had one much like yours, and we moved it from my mother’s house in Anniston to Birmingham, then over to Atlanta for Brendan’s house, then back to Birmingham. I wanted it gone because it was kind of wobbly. So I asked a few cousins if any of them wanted it, and Tunie did, so they hauled it to Marietta. I would not have bet money it would survive, but it did. She keeps her collection of horses in it! I have a great repair guy here in Bham that all the decorators use if you ever need any work done that could be hauled around. So sorry about your bed — maybe you will run across another. I’ll keep my fingers crossed! BTW — I couldn’t get your website to open earlier but it’s working now, obviously.
Thanks Ellen. I’m actually going to a wine tasting tonight, so I should be comforted and happier soon! As for the web site, the server was down, but they fixed it right up. Not only is my furniture broken . . . but the web site too? When it rains, it pours.
Having just moved to Fairhope to a little less than 2 months ago, I feel your pain. Our move was long distance (1000+ miles) and a total nightmare. We downsized to about 1/2 the size of our old home and all I can say is Wow!!! But, I am back home in my Sweet Home Alabama. & loving it. I feel I owe you a big hug for guiding us in this direction thru your blog. Until I discovered Fairhope Supply we were looking more toward northern Alabama where I’m from. I fell in love with your stories & after about 1/2 dozen trips here we built a house. ????
How wonderful! So happy you are here and survived the move. I hope I can meet you someday. Thanks so much for the nice note, and welcome to town!
Love, love, love your stories! Your writing skills are superb!! Looking forward to many more!!
May God continue to bless and keep you.?
Oh, thank you so much Dianne! I appreciate you taking the time to read.
My heart goes out to you. I’ve moved 13 times and one in particular was very similar to yours. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
13 times! Are you married to an army general? Wow. I don’t feel as bad now. Glad you survived.
All I can think to say is, Bless your heart! I can totally imagine just sitting and trying to cry. The tears might have helped.
I am excited that you have a new home and what sounds like a book. I can’t wait to hear more.
Hope things settle in soon.
Thanks. I needed a heart blessing!
(not a book – dang).
Oh, my poor Little Bitty Pretty! How terrible! First of all, I truly understand how hard moving is and the yuck of movers! So glad you’ve found someone to fix the brokenness! Your china cabinet is just so beautiful and I have your same little Nativity! We’ve moved a lot in in our married life and this move to upstate New York was the worst on broken and scratched and missing! We had a mover come and pack most of our things and they were moved to a climitized storage in Houston and when we were ready for it up here it came and when they unpacked and brought the things in, I was shocked! My piano legs were scratched so badly, my mother’s sweet lamp – busted up and will never bee the same! Anyway, take a deep breath, a long soak in the tub and yay for your new house. I would love to see your dollhouse. Think of a really new story and write a post about it! Pleeeeeeeeeeeease! 🙂
Be a sweetie,
Shelia 😉
Sheila, I remember you writing about how your mother’s piano legs were so damaged. Isn’t it always worse when it’s a family piece? I don’t think I ever in a million years would have chosen this style of china cabinet, but because it belonged to my grandmother, then my aunt, I just adore it!
I’ll definitely have to write about the doll house someday soon. It’s a great story! Have fun playing with yours!
Leslie Anne, I could hardly breathe reading this. I think moving is my worst nightmare. We have been married 43 years and we have moved only one time which was 37 years ago when we built our home. Since we don’t move, we have collected 37 years of stuff, including our 30 year old son’s childhood toys stored away. My husband is so sentimental and discards absolutely nothing. I think a move would throw me over the edge. You are a true Southern girl, you picked yourself up after the minor breakdown, and bless your heart!
I guess the big cleaning out process is a good thing about moving, but I also love to hang on to the boy’s old school work and a few toys, but each time we move, I manage to get rid of some of it. It’s a big trade off, I guess!
Thanks for blessing my heart. I need it!
Congrats on your move! So sorry the movers made such a mess of things. I agree – I hate moving too. Enjoy your new home and have a great weekend, Leslie Anne!
Thanks Katie. You’ve moved quite a bit from what I remember. I’ll have to take lessons from you next time!
I also hate moving, but now that this is behind you I am sure home will feel great for all of life events that are not pity parties. Enjoy! LOVE the china cabinet…I may have needed therapy if they broke my cherished cabinet.
Yes. No more pity parties. Just summertime fun parties! (With lots of china!!!)
Moving is just horrid, isn’t it? I would think it would be easier to move across the country than locally as well. I am glad the movers were nice, I mean, they better have been after breaking furniture! Playing with your china, a glass of wine, and a bathtub sounds like the idea therapy after all of that!! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!!
Thanks Lori. No matter how bad things get, it always makes things better when people are nice. That’s why I tried the hiding in the bathroom trick so I wouldn’t scare the poor guys!
Well I feel much better! I’m so sorry for all you’ve been through but you approached this whole moving “adventure” so confidently and carefree that I thought I must be crazy for hating moving so very much! Glad you are getting settled and that your broken items are being repaired. But how is Lois doing?
As long as we know where her supper dish is, she’s good to go.
Oh Good Grief what a nightmare! I would have FREAKED! I am so sorry so many of your things were ruined or damaged, I thought professional movers were supposed to be extra careful, especially for such a short move, unbelievable! I hope you can settle in and erase the bad memories with new good ones…oh, and just remember you’ve got something to hold over your husband for a long time!!
He’s been extra sweet to me, come to think of it!
Thanks, Jenna.
I am amazed at how entertainingly you were able to describe the experience–almost like being there (shudder). My heartfelt sympathies!
It’s either cry or laugh. Or both. Or go crazy.
Oh heavens! I hate to hear there was so much damage. We had a few broken items when we moved last year too, and I’m surprised it wasn’t more as I noticed (like you) boxes placed upside down and furniture handled carelessly. However, most of my stuff isn’t as antique, delicate, or precious as yours. I’m glad to hear they’re covering the costs and hope that everything’s starting to fall into place.
Yes, finally we’re pulling it all together. Thanks Hope.