Moving Weekend

In September 2011, Matt and I made a huge, life changing decision that will hopefully bring us a lot of growth in the future.  Matt accepted a new job, moving us from Kentucky to Chicago.  The problem was that I had already begun a school year in Kentucky, in a new position!  I did not feel right professionally or personally breaking my contract for the year and making such an inconvenience for a school that had become my family.  In addition, I probably wouldn't have been able to find a job yet in Chicago, so it seemed even more foolish to leave.

So, on October 26th, Matt moved to Chicago without me, and we began the most difficult seven months of our relationship to date.  We had done long distance before when we dated in college, but never with two careers, a dog, a cat, a five hour drive, a pending masters degree, and eventually a pregnancy.  Luckily the winter was very mild, allowing us to see each other without the danger of feet of snow!  I also am forever grateful for understanding colleagues and an unbeatable principal, for being flexible and supportive!

After many Skype dates, a few Megabus trips, and lots of phone calls, the end of the school year finally arrived in such a bitter-sweet way.  I would finally be reunited with my husband (and pets!) and it was summer summer summer!  But we were moving away from a lot of people that we really care about...not to mention all of the endless packing and cleaning that accompanies moving.  Kudos to my awesome husband for that-- pregnancy doesn't really mesh well with moving.

On moving weekend, which was memorial weekend, we went with a U-Haul truck and two awesome Two Men and a Truck guys to help us move.  In hindsight, we will pay people to do the whole thing for us next time.  Our apartment, which we thought we had cleared out pretty well, seemed like a never-ending pit of stuff.  We ended up giving a few shelves and things to one of the movers-- otherwise, our U-Haul would have been too small.

I took off with Chase puppy and Matt followed with the U-Haul.  It was 97 degrees outside, and we were ready to be done! Matt got about 15 miles away from Kentucky when the truck overheated.  The U-Haul guys told him to sit and wait in the truck and let it cool down while they contacted a service tech to come help or brought him a new truck to transfer our whole apartment into-- yikes.   Two hours later, after a lot of sweat and frustration, Matt still hadn't heard from U-Haul.  When he called, they told him they couldn't find any service people because of the holiday and to keep waiting.  Matt hung up, ignored them, and started driving, praying that the truck would make it.  Somehow, the truck had no more problems, and U-Haul got an earful the next day.  

Finally, we are back together in the same city, with no more long distance to do alone.  Yay!