Welcome to Chez Cliff!

My living room is now one solid wall of cardboard boxes.

Ugh.

For someone who doesn’t have a lot of stuff, I certainly have a lot of crap.

Originally, packing was suppose to take two days.  I’m now into day four and everything MUST be done tonight.  Thursday, the POD people show up to take my meager possessions to their storage facility.

I guess it shouldn’t be a surprise that my kitchen was the most difficult to pack.  After all, cooking is one of my favorite past-times.  Pots, pans, utensils, spices . . . As I sailed past box number 6, the realization of my task hit home.  I’m just grateful I didn’t get around to filling up all the cupboards.  Mon dieu! 

But this must be done by tonight.

Thursday, I can relax.  Oh no!  Christmas is coming.  That means I still have to go shopping.  With any luck, the rest of the world has completed their shopping and the malls and stores will be devoid of stressed parents, screaming kids, and barking dogs.

Yeah, right. 

I think I’m gonna cry.

. . . like George and Wheezie.

Maybe not "up".  Definitely "out".

I’m Pod-man now. 

Saturday, I depart for places unknown and won’t return for three weeks.  Upon my return, my personal affects will not be required.

Since leaving the nest for college, I’ve moved 18 times.  I’m getting pretty good at this.

I shouldn’t have been surprised when a fellow real estate investor I know said to me "Cliff, I have an entire third floor you can have."  But I was most definitely surprised.

There is no expectation of rent.
There are no expectations period.

Of course, I will pay some kind of rent.  I don’t mooch.

And when I asked why this investor would make me such a generous offer, the response was "When you told me about the security deposit, I knew you were a good person."

My heart was moved.  My soul was touched.

It never even occurred to me that such a minor act was going to impact my future.  But it did.   It appears the Universe is being kind to me.

With this huge, immense weight lifted off my shoulders it makes it way easier to focus on the immediate task at hand:  moving my life into storage in three days.

Sometimes you just have to feel.

I think I was about 15 when I decided I needed to go to Paris.  Another 15 years passed before this dream was realized.  During that time, that little idea burned in the back of my head.  It festered, it grew, it refused to let me forget about it.

It’s still fresh in my mind:  the first time my foot set down in Paris.  I was on the EuroStar, just arrived from London.  During the 150 mph train ride, I could barely contain my excitement.  This exotic location was heading towards me at break neck speed.  Would I be ready?  Would it be like I saw in all those photos?  Would I get lost in the Louvre?  Would my French be understandable?

It was nearly midnight.  The staircase leading up from the metro planted me squarely next to three beautiful restaurant.  The cool, fall air swirled around me.  I wanted to fill my lungs with this scent but I couldn’t.  My heart was racing, my breathing was shallow.  It almost overwhelmed me.

After walking for what felt like an eternity, my lost soul found it’s way to my hotel.  I checked in, using my broken French.  I made my way to my room; but sleeping was the last thing on my mind.

I knew that the Eiffel Tower was only 3 blocks from my hotel.  I knew the site of the Eiffel Tower would make this real.  At that moment I would be really, truly, undeniably be in Paris.  Excitement got the better of me as I raced back out on the street.  I was too close.  I had come this far.  I refused to deny myself.  I had to see it.  I must see the one monument that defines Paris in the eyes of world.

It didn’t disappoint.

For those who haven’t see the Eiffel Tower (La Tour Eiffel

) lit up at night, it is spectacular.  I felt as if I was a small child, seeing the sun for the first time.  The awe not only of it’s size but how it touched my soul.  The Tower started flashing its lights as if to say "Welcome to Paris young man.  You finally made it."

To this day, I remember every detail.  Every nuance.  Every oder.

There’s a part of my being that shares in the joy whenever someone experiences a similar event.

With that being said, I’m hoping that WonderWoman enjoys her first vacation to Italy.  Something she has dreamed about for a long time.

Safe travels. 

If you decide not to return, can I have your car?

Upheaval ( p-hvl )  noun, from Old English

1. The process of being heaved upward
2. A sudden, violent disruption or upset
3. Clifford’s life

The clock is ticking.

Next Friday, the new tenants move in.  This means I move out by next Thursday.

There’s a bit of fortune.

I’m leaving for vacation next Saturday.  And since I’ll be out of the state for a few weeks, I don’t have to find a new place to live right this second.  My stuff can go into storage.  Half the pressure just evaporated.

Maybe "evaporate" isn’t the correct term.  Maybe "delayed" would be better.

This is fun!