Moving Out

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Originally uploaded by jmsmall2005.

It seems that Mom and I have both accepted the fact that--at this juncture, anyway--I am not going to be moving back into my old bedroom. (I think maybe the buying-a-house-in-Virginia is what tipped us off.) So we officially moved me out.

You may think it's strange that I have not moved out of my parents' house. You must remember that almost exactly six years ago I flew out to DC for a three-month internship on a round trip ticket. The plan was to actually use the return flight to move home, but somehow six years, one internship, and two jobs (a few roommates, lots of addresses, a diamond ring, many overweight suitcases, etc.) have gone by, and here I sit.

Thus, moving out.

Mom and I emptied my closet of school papers, oversized flannel shirts from college, and yes, a few of these. My life literally flashed before my eyes as we sorted through the piles. Among the treasures we found:

* Senior pictures from my youth group friends, complete with notes written on the backs. Shaanti's was signed, "Bare Bottoms Forever." Ah, our song-writing days (at ages 4 and 3).

* This sweet FFA sign, in addition to a bumper sticker that says something again to "FFA Rocks!" and a long-lost copy of my retiring address as a State FFA Officer. The blue jacket, unfortunately, is probably in the dress-up clothes now.

* Numerous bridesmaid dresses.

* Delicious letters from Oxford friends, received weeks after we parted ways and headed home. Also, a whole packet of "what to expect when you get to Oxford" information that would have been handy to have read before I arrived in the UK...

* The scrapbook I made of newspaper articles from the year NNC almost won the NAIA men's basketball tournament. Nerdy.

* The volleyball antenna ball that hung from the rearview window of our '89 Honda Accord (a moment of silence, please) all through high school.

*Lots and lots of mix tapes.

Of course, as the clock came around to 1 am, Mom didn't gush about these treasures nearly as much as I did. In fact, I'm pretty sure she only stayed up to finish with me because she knew that if she wasn't there watching like a hawk I would just curl up with a pile of old emails and never finish. I promise that we threw a lot of stuff out. Really, Jason, we did. No, we don't have to find a place for everything in our little house...