This is it. My family's last night under the roof that I came home from the adoption agency to, where I learned to walk, was potty-trained, learned to curse (okay, maybe that was the schoolyard), and discovered cable TV. I'm not sure what I thought tonight would be like, but it's like this: the house is creaky since the carpets are up, I'm exhausted but wired from seeing not one but 3 old friends tonight, including one who I hadn't talked to in way too long and I guess I'm ready for all of this to be over with so I can get back to my life.

I've helped plenty of people move over the years. While schlepping someone else's stuff, I often think 'I'm schlepping someone else's stuff'. I didn't expect to think that about my parents' stuff but really, it is. The things in this house belong to them, even the crap I'd left behind isn't really mine anymore. If I haven't needed it in the 10 years since I moved out of this house, it's probably not of major importance.

Anyway, I may not have anything to say tomorrow since I'm not sure where my next working phone line is coming from. The phone is supposed to be turned on at the new house but if Ameritech is anything like Pac Bell, it could be next year.