Getting Scrappy: Do You Know the Way to San Jose?

I'm happy to report that we made it to San Jose. The movers came on Saturday, loaded all 115 boxes and pieces of furniture into the truck and hauled it away. I had to pack a suitcase for up to a week of essentials because the movers couldn't guarantee the delivery date. That wasn't hard since I've been so used to packing that suitcase for my many trips up to see John. Amazingly, I was ready to go hours before the movers arrived, so we were able to run out for some lunch beforehand. The movers took about two hours - to our amazement. They wrapped my sectional like it was a baby being swaddled. The went through rolls of tape and a ton of plastic wrap! John and I sat back for the most part and kept my dog, Pei from going nuts outside while the movers were in the house. I couldn't imagine not having any scrapbooking for a week, so I actually packed a special bag with my scrap essentials and a kit from Rusty Pickle that I had delivered the week prior. My love for scrapping runs deep. The stress alone would compel me to scrap if I had two minutes to spare! Of course the one thing I forgot during this whole process to actually pull out my camera and take pictures until minutes before the truck was ready to pull away. John took the truck photo, who sweetly snapped a few shots while my hands were full.

John, Pei and I pulled out of the driveway at about 9:00pm, after heartfelt goodbyes were exchanged with my dear sister, Jenn. We bought our house together 3.5 years ago and many good times were had together. But, it was time for a new chapter in my life and I knew that Jenn was going to enjoy not having her little sister around all the time! I've kept my bedroom intact to be used as a guest bedroom - it actually looks like a little bed and breakfast room now. It will be there for our family to use and for John and me when we come to visit. I was happy to leave it all, not to mention the fact that there really isn't room in John's 4 bedroom house for it either! Jade's bedroom was left as another guest bedroom, just without any closet space. That had been used for all of Jade and my keepsakes that I didn't want to pay to have moved up here just to be stored.

Pei wouldn't settle down, so we ended up giving him one of those doggie chill-pills and it worked like magic! For a dog who didn't like to sit down, let alone lie down in a moving car, this was just what he needed. Within 20 minutes of taking it, he was losing his balance and the droopy eyelids set in. He slept almost the entire 7 hour ride. Speaking of 7 hour rides, John drove us the entire way. He has the mental and physical strength of three men, my hero and the love of my life. I adore how he takes care of me, and this is yet another example of his love and protection. He didn't want to me to have to worry with the drive, just sit back and relax. I kept him company most of the way, but slowly grew tired and slept off and on during the second half of the drive.

Highlights include:
- The stop at In and Out Burger for a late night snack (chocolate shake included)
- Taking Pei out of the SUV to go potty. (He kept weaving back and forth, fell down and nose-dived a few times as well)
- The sunrise

We arrived at our house at about 4:00am (bless John's heart) safely, without issue. We brought Pei inside and sequestered him to the bedroom. John's cats, Boo and Chance have yet to meet a dog, and that WASN'T happening at 4am! By the time we finally laid down in bed, the sun was coming up and it was the most beautiful morning looking out over Silicon Valley - maybe more symbolically than anything, but it was all that I had been wanting was to be here permanently - to wake up everyday with the one I love... It was the start of my next chapter - with John - and I couldn't imagine being anywhere else at that moment.