Closing Time

We returned from closing on the parsonage in Crescent City last night and I still feel like I'm coming out of a dream. It was a strange and emotional 4 days.

When we got to C. City, the weather had turned bad and there were tornado warnings. That's a good sign, right?

Storm clouds over Lake Stella

We got to the house to do the walk through and the owner and Realtor  were there. They showed us around the yard first and then the house, giving much detail on both. This was super helpful as there seemed to be a lot to know.  The owner had suffered a tragedy four years ago which I won't go into for the sake of privacy. I think that her selling the house with everything in it is a way for her to try to move on which she seems to be having a very hard time doing.

After the closing I was exhausted, physically and mentally. We went back to the parsonage and I had a good cry. Then Jerry took me to Musselwhite's in Palatka and I had a gorgeous steak dinner! Feeling much better.

Day 2 we went to the insurance place and Kmart in Palatka for some odds and ends. I was still exhausted from the day before and my balance was lousy. We took a little walk at Dunne's Creek park, stopped at Winn Dixie and got a rack of spare ribs that the C. City soccer team had going in the smoker out front to raise money for the kids... yum... We had dinner on the front porch and watched the sun set over Lake Stella.

Day 3 the girls came up with Minnie. I really needed them too. Up to this point I felt like I was in someone else's house and essentially I was. The owner left everything... like down to shampoo and silverware. And being as I felt like I was in a B&B, I was doing nothing to change this. I was still in the, "OMG she left her grandmothers handsewn quilt behind!" stage. So the girls started getting things together and got us moving. My sister and her husband came up too and stayed a few hours. We headed back up to Winn Dixie for more of those smoked BBQ ribs for everyone. After my sister went back down to Cocoa Beach, we all took Minnie for a walk to see the bald eagle nest down the street... yeah, right down the street. It was dusk and from over head came a big hoot... a big old barred owl right over head just like this one! He was eyeing Minnie I think.

And in the field across the street from our house, fireflies. I haven't seen fireflies since I was a little girl and used to collect them in a jar.

Jerry and Minnie by Lake Stella

Day 4 the girls went exploring as this will be Che's home in a couple of weeks. We got to babysit Minnie. Took her for a long walk to the park to wear her out. Fat chance. She's a fun girl though but a handful. She is a Plott hound mix and at 10 months already weighs 57 lbs. Minnie is a pound rescue and we all love her already.

We all hung around till about 4:30 and headed back to Hollywood. This has been just a wonderful 4 days and I feel so incredibly blessed. The next couple of weeks will be rough. Waiting for the doctors to review my case and see what is to be done with the brain booger. But the memory of fireflies will sustain me.