One Big Push

After things seeming to crawl along for three years, the last two months have been breakneck. Finish deck, finish deck railings, one last light fixture, one missing piece of trim. I had to take vacation time to work on the house with Ian because sunny days don't always happen on weekends. 

And did I mention some evil fucker cut the catalytic converter off my Tucson at the ferry parking lot one day? Leaving me with a $2,200 bill and no transportation for nearly two weeks.

But finally, Ian got back out to the house a month ago and declared he was staying until it was done. He did, too, with the exception of a few days after the house was listed before we had an offer and could go back in. 

At one point I just knew our collective energy/morale was at its lowest, and we both were struggling to find the strength to get through the move. So I told him (on Father's Day, actually), the story of the day he was born. And how in a surgical suite with an epidural so I couldn't feel anything, actually, my nurse told me I had one chance to deliver him before they gave up and went to a C-Section. She was holding my hand, cheering for me, pleading with me ... just one more push. Just ONE MORE, BIG PUSH .... 

Sometimes, somehow, the force of our will is our greatest might. 

Once we had our offer, we had just over two weeks until closing. Things dragged on with the buyers' deadlines, there were extensions, work estimates, yadda. All normal stuff, just difficult to navigate while frantically trying to finish emptying, cleaning, and leaving a house in a compressed time frame. 

The love and support (and patience, probably, because it's ALL I talk about) of family and friends throughout this has sustained me. The love and mutual respect Ian and I have for each other is everything. We now know, that if either one of us says "I got you," we mean it. 

The sale closed today, and I texted him that he wasn't gifted this, he worked very hard and earned it. 

As we were leaving for the last time yesterday we both just kind of crumpled on our way up the Lane. Tears just pouring. A dam of everything we had been holding back because we had work to do just ... released. I was sobbing myself, but I was trying to tell Ian that there was no right or wrong way to feel. Sadness, relief, joy, pride, melancholy, and still frustration over generic real estate agent antics. 

I pointed my finger at the windshield and told him that's where he needed to keep looking: Ahead. 

So it's done, now. And I think we will talk about it forever, honestly. In that way we used to debrief after seeing a movie together when he was little ("Mom, what was your favourite part??") It was epic. And in case this blog lasts long enough for our memories to fade, "... AND IN A PANDEMIC."

Like most proud mothers, the pain of childbirth is quickly forgotten. And so, I am turning back to my own house project because I can't wait to see that house grow up and be all it can be as well. So I will see you on the OZ side. 

Friends, thank you. 

If you haven't seen the final of the house, you can check out Andrew Stephens' listing video here.








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