Adventures in Beverly

Our new home

I kind of don't know where to start. So much has happened in my life in the last 9 months! Last Wednesday, we closed on this house in Beverly, Massachusetts. I went to work Thursday and Friday, while making lots of arrangements by phone and packing things in the apartment after work. Good thing I only work 30 hours a week!

Friday afternoon, my father arrived from Athens. There is an apartment for him in this wonderful house. Molli's husband, Adrian, and his sister, Tamara, also arrived about the same time, from Mexico.

moving out of the apartment in Cambridge

Molli went to pick them up at the airport while I finalized some dinner preparations and continued packing. I went to bed early, but only managed about 4 hours sleep. I am hoping soon I will be able to sleep again.

Yesterday morning, I continued packing things up. Molli and Adrian picked up the U-Haul. Tamara and my Dad helped me, sealing packages, for instance. In a few hours, we had everything on the truck and had a lunch break. By 3, we were in Beverly. The house is still amazing, but where will we put everything?

Molli and Adrian did most of the heavy lifting

They carried things in and I told them where they went. Tamara offered to hook up the internet when I started looking at the directions. "I'm kind of good at this," she said. I humored her. "Let's go," said Molli. They had to drive back to Cambridge and return the truck. They were leaving early this morning to fly to Georgia and drive my Dad's car up, by way of a brief visit to Washington, D.C.

They left, offering to take me back with them, where I could sleep on the couch. "No, thanks," I said, "I don't mind staying here alone."

The temperature in Beverly was a little cooler than Cambridge, and quite a bit cooler than Georgia. It was still over 80 though. I had an old window air conditioner (thank you, cousin Dinda) that I hooked up in the bedroom. It seemed to work pretty well. I spent time going to all the windows and seeing which ones had screens and could be opened. I closed the ones in my bedroom and on the sunny sides, but opened some of the others. There was a nice sea breeze for sure, but I was pretty sweaty.

First, I checked the internet. Amazingly, it worked! Without looking at the directions, in about 10 minutes, Tamara had opened the modem, router, etc., plugged them in, and gotten them working. Amazing! I haven't tried the TV yet...

Then, I decided I should think about eating something. There are restaurants and convenience stores nearby, but I was exhausted (even though I didn't do most of the work). The stairs are one of the great features of the house, but after going up and down them 20 times or so, they hold less appeal. The idea of walking anywhere, even 2 blocks, was overwhelming. Besides, I wanted to savor my time in my new home.

Looking through the box of canned goods, I decided to have some tuna with the last of a box of wheat thins. Then, I had to find the can opener. (Somewhere, I have a list of the things I was supposed to pack separately, in an "open me first" box...that didn't happen!). No mayo, the tuna was a little dry. I opened a can of stewed tomatoes to provide a vegetable. I sure wished I had some ice cream!! Again, not willing to walk even a step...new idea for a business: ice cream delivery service?

Next, making the bed...although it occurred to me, I could probably just lie down on the mattress in my clothes and be asleep in minutes. I probably wouldn't even be the first person to do that in this situation.

As the sun went down, so did the temperature. When it got to 72 or so, I turned off the AC and opened all the windows. I wish I could tell you it was amazingly comfortable, but it was very humid. It rained in the night. I was sweaty and wanted to take a bath in my "new" tub. Should I do a load of laundry and wash the dirty sheets to make up the bed? or sleep on them dirty? Fortunately, I found a box of clean sheets, so could make up the bed and take a bath and sleep in clean sheets. View of the harbor from my bed!! I talked to Ray and Amelia and eventually went to sleep, waking several times and seeing the lights in the harbor. Once I even prowled the house, picking up the last few crackers and eating them before going back to sleep. Eventually, though, I got more than 7 hours of sleep, the most I've had in a couple weeks!

I couldn't magic up anything for breakfast, except canned beans, but no more crackers. I decided to go out to breakfast and found a place very close by that was supposed to open at 6. I managed to find clothes and shoes to wear, and even a raincoat. Unfortunately, the Anchor was not open, although there seemed to be preparation going on inside. I could not find any posted hours, but I suspect they open later than 6 on Sundays...

I walked to the closest convenience store, Tedeschi's, and bought a yogurt and a loaf of bread, as well as potato chips and cookies for later today. I couldn't find a pot to boil water near the top of any boxes, but found tea bags and a cup. My Dad's apartment (upstairs) has a built-in microwave, so I heated my water there.

Next? Take the commuter train to Boston and the T to Cambridge, arriving in about 90 minutes. Finish packing and cleaning my apartment (with Tamara's paid assistance) and load the things in Molli's car. Drive back to Beverly with my Dad and Tamara. The movers should be here this afternoon, with everything we need. I'd like to hear from them this morning, because if my Dad's bed cannot be set up by tonight, they should stay in Cambridge.

Leaving here about 9 to walk half a mile to the train.