Finally the pieces of the puzzle are beginning to fit together. The edge was done - decision made to move, most of the packing accomplished, degree completed, Jaime's possessions transported to OKC - but the center was empty. This week has seen some real progress and the whole picture is starting to come together. Right upper quadrant: on Tuesday, the house sold! The buyer wants to close as soon as possible, probably next week, but will allow us as long as 30 days to vacate - and with no rent for that time. The Penske truck is reserved, our son-in-law Jason will do the driving, Buck and the doggins will be here before mid-June. Lower right: I'm looking at homes to rent so we'll have a place to PUT the contents of the truck. Lower left: I received word yesterday that Oregon has accepted my degree! Once I find a job - the biggest piece of this part of the puzzle - I only need to submit my supervision agreement and statement of professional disclosure and I'm officially an "intern," which is equivalent to Oklahoma's designation of "candidate." Left upper quadrant: Buck getting a part-time job and just settling in to a new routine.
In the meantime, I'm staying at the Paradise Resort, also known as Toot and Craig's home. I seep in until around 8am every morning. The weather has been beautiful, daytime temps ranging from 60-87, and lots of sunshine (so far). Days are filled with reading, job applications, sewing, visiting with Craig, and working on the puzzle described above. Oh - and relaxing in the hot tub, listening to the music of the creek running behind the house. In the evenings, I walk a little ways with Craig and Hooper-Dooper-Dog or work out at Curves with Toot. Craig's cooking is really spoiling me - not only because it's delicious, but because I don't have to do the preparation. Red beans and rice with crawfish and shrimp, spring rolls and rice, grilled turkey burgers, homemade popovers with strawberries and real whipped cream....sigh! After dinner we just veg out in front of the TV - Toot with her knitting, me with my iPad, and Craig sometimes munching on a sugar-free brownie.
Buck and I talk daily, working on the puzzle from different angles. I Skyped with Ginny's gang over the weekend, which was fun, and I've talked to Carrie and Jaime several times. Buck will be here soon; the biggest adjustment is not seeing some combination of kids and grandkids just about daily. I miss them all!
Overall, jigsaw puzzles - while challenging - are fun. And what better place to put one together than paradise?
