The Final Stretch

It’s hard to believe, but we’re in the final stretch before our move. Tomorrow, the pups will be picked up. If I had to name the primary source of anxiety, it would be their trip to Montevideo. They’ll have a four-day journey before reaching their final destination, and I’ll be incredibly happy to see them on Thursday.

We weren’t successful with crate training, so putting them in their crates tomorrow when the carrier arrives will be a challenge. I’m not too worried about Tyson—he’s our “go with the flow” pup. Twelve-Oaks, on the other hand, is the one I’m concerned about. She gets stressed when things change, and this trip will be a huge adjustment for her. She usually settles once the car starts moving, so I’m hoping it’ll be the same on the plane. The picture on the blog site for this entry is how I want her to be. Asleep and peaceful. Thankfully, we’ll be able to track their progress throughout the journey.

I don’t think we would have made it to this point without our friends. Their help made it possible to meet deadlines and organize what we could take. Our neighbors, Steven and Karin G., were lifesavers. One Saturday, they texted to say they were coming over to help—and help they did. They packed glasses, moved boxes to the basement, and found someone to take the old washer, dryer, and refrigerator. They even invited us over for a Thanksgiving meal so we could enjoy one last celebration in the U.S.

Another pair of remarkable friends, Corey and Jo N., kept us grounded and sane. They made sure we took breaks and got out of the house instead of constantly working or ruminating over what was left to do. Jo even found a colleague who needed kitchen supplies, so we boxed up pots, pans, utensils, and cookware. We gave them cups and stoneware too. It was so much easier to part with our things knowing they were going to people we “knew” rather than to a dumpster.

Our friends are truly irreplaceable. The funny thing is, even though life has been chaotic, I’ve genuinely enjoyed the time we’ve spent together these past few months. The memories we’ve created far outweigh the belongings we’ve given away.

COUNTDOWN: 1 day for the dogs, 2 days for humans