ETA-TBD

15 August 22 – Herndon, VA to Washington, PA – Jim

Kelly and I spent night 1 of our cross-country odyssey in Washington, PA, where Pasha is seen here auditioning to become the local Double A baseball team’s mascot. Given the team’s nickname and Pasha’s lack of discipline, we thought it was a good match. Pasha finished as runner-up to a Jack Russell Terrier, but we’re proud that the team plans to sign him as a relief pitcher if he shows more control on the mound.

24 July 2022 – Herndon, VA – Kelly

As luck would have it, Jim and I were presented with an opportunity to rent out our house (furnished) for one year. Long story short, we said “Heck yeah!” and our plan to pack up and store our stuff, grab the 80 pound dog, and hit the road to who knows where was set in motion.

We are less than one month away from move-out day and this is the stage where we pack, purge, and donate. Our personal stuff will be going into a pod for a year. The pod drops on August 1, so we are under the gun!

Two tidbits from the last few days of packing:

(1) Some folks track their memories in a journal, some keep photo albums, we’ve learned that Jim keeps golf shirts and ball caps (so many!) Like a time capsule of his life: The usual favorite team gear from a lifetime of sports-fandom. A shirt from almost 30 years ago when we took our toddlers to see the Blue Angels fly over Stockholm, and a well-worn and frayed Virginia Tech cap where both of those kiddos ended up going to college. He still had the cap he bought the day after our house caught fire when his buddies took him golfing, and one from our favorite beach from our first overseas posting in the 80s (Australia). Lots of memories in those logos!

(2) All of the clothes Jim is getting rid of are too big. All of the clothes I am getting rid of are too small. I find this annoying.

(3) Unlike most of our many other moves, this time we have to pack everything up ourselves. As Jim was wrestling with the paper, bubblewrap, and packing tape he was using to wrap up the fragile items and pictures from his office, he said: “I need the packing equivalent of gift bags.” (He was an early adaptor of the gift bag, and has not wrapped a present with wrapping paper and tape since the 80s!)

I am more observant of Jim’s antics than mine, but I have noticed that I am faster at packing than him, and definitely less sentimental. Like that hat from the fire I mentioned? I was touched by the story, but then I told him to pitch it.