Moving and other Life Changing Events

After three years and multiple attempts, we have finally sold our dream house.  I say it like that only because it was a labor of love getting it built.  I had decided early on in the process that I would just kind of go "along for the ride" during the process and not let anything bother me when it came to upgrades, timing, decoration or anything else. I was there at least three times a week, providing input and asking if the builder could do this or do that to make it turn out exactly the way we wanted.  Did it?  Not completely.  Hindsight being what it is, and if I had to do it over, there are a couple things I would probably change.  It was, however, pretty special.  The new owners should know that they got a very nice home.  So, after signing the closing papers (life changing event #1) on June 28th, the movers showed up and said the same thing Maurie Bolt and my step dad said.........You don't have enough truck!  Boy, oh boy, has that been mentioned a time or two since!! 

I don't plan.  Hmmmm, I'll be darned. Really?   I got us the biggest truck I was allowed by law to drive without a commercial CDL. Thought it was enough, it wasn't.  You roll with it.  What else you gonna do?  So, after a few calls, I was able to secure a second truck, Kim talked the movers into staying (Thanks Wray Brothers crew), and we got everything loaded into the two vehicles.  We then loaded Kim's little SUV on the automobile carrier and, much to her dismay, she climbed behind the wheel of the 17' Budget and I got in the 26' UHaul and we started our little journey to our new home in Lewisville, TX I wondered more than once if I was supposed to be stopping in those weigh stations I saw from Iowa to Texas, but never bothered.  After all, I wasn't "for hire", I was just moving.  Besides, I didn't want to know how overloaded my truck(s) might have been on that little drive.

Kim was terrified, I don't blame her.  I certainly empathize with how she felt.  Dan Brace, thank you, for helping out and offering to make that drive with us.  Kim and I both really appreciate that.  She did great though.  Earned her big girl pants driving through KC, Oklahoma City, Des Moines and even into Northern Dallas Metro.  It wasn't easy. (Life changing event #2)  Certainly had our moments along the way, but by the next morning, when we left Emporia, KS, she was doing fantastic and we were working in tandem making those lane changes and she was keeping right up with me.   We arrived in Lewisville about an hour and a half quicker than I had originally thought we might.  Nice job punky, nice job!

We got to our new house, unloading movers arrived and we got both trucks unloaded, made multiple trips to the storage facility and ended up getting both trucks turned in that same day. Quite impressive, really, considering. David Fontana and Michael Jenkins (son-in-laws) were both very helpful and instrumental in getting us that far the first afternoon.  Thank you both.

The rest of the week, Kim and I spent the majority of the time we had being pissy with each other.  I can tell you this, moving, to another state and environment altogether, particularly to a place where the population of the metroplex is twice that of the entire state you just left.........is stressful.  For all parties.  We both know why we are there and why we are doing it.  We have a couple really special grandchildren that we wanted to be close to. (Life changing events #3)

Maybe the biggest life change for me will be two fold:  First, I'm basically jobless.  I'm currently back in Iowa finishing out my commitment to my current employer, but that is short term.  While I have been diligently applying on positions in the Dallas metro area, I'm getting very little response from prospective employers.  It's a little frustrating, but here's something I've come to realize......CPM has given me the opportunity to not only bolster my resume', but, grow as an employee.  They have been gracious enough to not show me the door when I told them I was preparing to move.  They asked if I could stay a while longer to cover some absences and I agreed.  Ultimately, it will work out best for all of us.  Gives me a couple weeks with a paycheck coming in.  Gets us closer to the time Kim and I head to Cancun for 10 days of nothing but sand, sun and Amanda's official wedding and might even tell me whether I need to try and venture back in September or October to capture the Co-Angler of the year title for the Cedar Valley Bass Masters and qualify for a National event with Bass World Sports.  We sit #1 and #4 respectively, so, well on our way.  Wish I could say that accomplishing either of these would be (life changing event #4), but it won't be.  It will just prove to me that I can, and will continue, to fish with some of the best bass fisherman I've ever met.   It's been fun. 

As I close this chapter of my life, and begin the next, I'm looking at it as just another adventure.  One that will, like so many others, turn out just fine.  And who knows, maybe my quest for a double digit Largemouth will actually come to fruition in the great bass fishing state of Texas.  Cause, like they say, everything is bigger.........in Texas.  And its true.......the interstates, the cities, the trucks and the bass. Can't wait to take those two little ones fishing with me. (Maybe just one at a time!).