The Great Move

Welcome to Willow’s weekly coffee and tea garden. My name is Paul; I’ll be your barista today. I’m happy to see you have come for a cuppa and a chat. Please come into the garden and make yourself comfortable. Willow has put out the cushions on the chairs and set the table under the canopy so we can have a cuppa and chat. As usual, I’d be pleased to bring a pot of whatever beverage you prefer – we have a wide range of teas and coffees to satisfy our world-wide readership. Also available is a large selection of spirits for addition to your cuppa or in its place. We can relax amongst the flowers while we discuss the affairs of the week both personal and/or worldwide. How has your week been?

Well, I finally moved this week and I am pleased. After a year of a leaky ceiling – management truly did exert themselves trying to fix it by patching then replacing the roof, the gutters, the flashing and so on – I have gotten a new apartment in the same complex. This one is bigger and newly renovated with a new counter and fridge and stove and, best of all, they gave it to me at the same price – I guess as a reward for my patience with the leaky ceiling.

The move itself was rather hard to get started –it has been eminent and delayed for a month now as the manager had promised to get me some help and other things kept popping up. I was in no position to complain as he was giving me help and the new apartment was a great improvement for the same price. I don’t walk very well, so navigating the stairs was not doable for me alone. The move was just a few buildings down and could be done through the back doors of the units as they share a parking lot at the rear. Ray is the handy man that the manager was going to get to help – and although Ray is a great guy, he is not enamored of work and I suspect he was delaying the move by telling Mark (the manager) that he was too busy. Anyway I have been preparing for this move for a month so most of my belongings were in bags and boxes piled on the floor waiting to go. It was getting annoying living out of the boxes but I was cool hoping the outcome would justify the patience. Rushing them could easily be counter productive – pissing off the handyman is not a good thing to do.

Would you like another cuppa while we chat? Perhaps a sweet? So finally Wednesday afternoon, Mark came to me and said we would make the move on Thursday, but he could not give a time. He asked to see my room to see what repairs had to be done and he frowned when he saw all the boxes and bags. He sternly told me I would have to keep the new apartment much cleaner. I reminded him that all the cupboards and dressers and cabinets were all empty because he had been promising to move me for a month. I had washed and waxed the floor just a few days previous and since then it had rained and dirty water had poured in through the ceiling. I had mopped it up, of course but the floor looked dirty. This was fine, so I made sure I would be in all the next day. I had dialysis Wednesday night so I was late getting home and then could not sleep, so I worked on the computer. One of the guys in my building – Steve – had been kind enough to volunteer to help, so I let him know it would be Thursday. I awoke at noon on Thursday, got dressed and made sure all the daily stuff was boxed up and sat down to wait. It was a nice day so I had the back door open a few inches for air circulation and was working on the computer. Steve called wondering about the move time and I told him it was up to Mark and I’d call him as soon as it was a go.

At 4 pm Mark called out to me from the back door and asked where I had been that morning when they had wanted to move me at 9 am. I said I had been in bed asleep and apparently had not heard the knock. I told him I had had my phone on beside the bed waiting for him to call. Ray (the handyman) insisted he had knocked at the back door and then at the front door and there was no response – yeah, right, the door had literally been open all afternoon and Ray spends most of his day going to and from the storage areas in back. So, Mark said it was too late to move that day and we would have to reschedule. AAAARGH! I pointed out that everything was ready to go and it would only take a short time to move it. Perhaps we could do it now? He said they couldn’t but he would give me the key and I could move lighter things at my own convenience. That was all I needed. I asked if I could stay in the new apt that night and he said it was mine effective immediately. I told him that Steve and I would move and I would text him when we were done. So I called Steve, told him what was happening and he was eager to get started. When Steve arrived, we went to the new apartment and decided where the bigger items would be positioned. I told him that I would pass him down the boxes from the back steps and he could carry them and pile them at the base of the stairs at the new apt. Then I would go over and we would pass them up into the new place. He seemed relieved that the plan meant no one had to traverse the stairs with boxes. Steve had just carried the first box over and I was passing him the second when a passer-by stopped to say hello.

Apparently, Nicholas – as Steve introduced him – was a friend of Steve’s. He asked if we needed help and I eagerly accepted. Nicholas (who I found out is from Gaspe – a remote part of eastern Quebec) pitched right in and he and Steve carried while I passed them the boxes and bags and lamps and chairs. Then while I was cleaning the old room, they carried out the heavier pieces that needed two people to move. With those in place at the new apt, the three of us passed all the boxes and bags from the ground into the apartment.

In an hour we were done and I texted Mark that were all finished and that I would drop the keys in the office mail slot. I’m still putting things away and organizing, but I am so happy that the move is done and I am in my new place. I Googled “Free image of Apartment Moving” and this is one that came up.

It never ceases to amaze me how giving people are. First of all, Mark was willing to give me a bigger and newer apt for the same price – he made sure it was on the first floor so I could walk in easily. He also offered help when he had no obligation to do so. Steve offered his help to move and remained patient and dedicated even when the time kept changing. Steve actually got a new cell phone this month and made sure I had his new number so I could contact him when needed. Then Nicholas, who I didn’t even know, came upon us moving and just started to help without even being asked. People can be so On that note, that’s about all we have room for this week, so it’s time to settle in with another cuppa and enjoy the garden. Sweets anyone? Please join me in thanking Willow for her invitation to tea. We are all honored that you dropped by today to visit. I hope you’ve enjoyed yourself and the conversation and please look around at Willow’s other posts while you’re here. Willow is over there serving her guests and chatting it up. Let’s go see how she is today. Have a great week. We look forward to seeing you back here for sweets and beverages of your choice again next week.

And of course the

IF WE WERE HAVING COFFEE: WEEKEND COFFEE SHARE

over at Part Time Monster and Gene’O’s

The darkness was complete and immediate as was the silence. I was suddenly alone and cold so cold. “This way ” said a soothing but firm voice , I could not be sure if it was a male or a female but I wanted to comply and at once.

There was a long dim corridor with innumerable doors stretching to infinity and yet somehow I was walking along with the gentle presence, at ease just as if I was strolling through the fields near home. After a while we reached a brightly lit office the walls were rainbow coloured and covered with monitors showing a myriad of information not unlike a CCTV control room.

Entering the office I was immediately struck again by a calm restful feeling, a beautiful person rose from the desk and again I could not determine what sex they were. “Please take a seat , I have made you a one shot black American, Ethiopian Blend, black. How you had the patience to order that every time you had coffee out is beyond me! ” Then they smiled at me, such a smile I had ever seen. I smiled back and hope it pleased them as much as their smile pleased me.

I tried my coffee it was perfect. “Now” the being behind the desk said , “You have a decision to make, the biggest and most important decision ever. Please think hard about my next question there is no need to make an immediate decision you must think hard as there is no changing your mind once the decision is made. ”

Sitting there sipping my coffee I felt calm and relaxed yet so tired. I looked at the being and spoke for the first time ,”what is the question” I was a little shocked by the sound of my voice, it was strange, as if it did not belong to me . Reaching across the desk this beautiful being touched my hand and looked into my eyes and said.” You are on the cusp of life and death , frozen in time . You are dead but officially so, yet. The question is do you want to die now and cut ties with everything you hold dear or do you want to stay here.”

I should of been shocked, I should of been galvanized into action….. but I was not. “Do you remember what happened ” asked the being, here let me help you with some information” waving a hand over my head I saw it all. I felt the pain the distress as I fought with myself , I saw the wall I felt the urge to drive right into it . I saw the dark deserted road and my car smashed into the wall and I saw me in the car all bloodied and still.” Can I go back , like that what lies ahead of me ” The being smiled I cannot answer that , that is privileged information . You can choose to live or you can choose to die. Your place set you either take it sooner or later .” they finished on a smile.

Seemingly an eternity passed as I thought about my options, I sat there oblivious of the monitors or the being moving around the office. There was no rush or urgency , no pressure. ” I do not feel ready to come here yet” I said , a fear and hopelessness grabbed me as the words left my mouth. Taking my hand again the being whispered “One of us will help you along and more than that I shall not tell”

It came to me in a flash I wanted to go back suddenly it was so important and it was all I could do not to leap from the chair. The being must of read my mind , “Are you sure” they asked me. “Yes , Yes I am , never more so. I replied.

The darkness was complete and immediate as was the silence. I was suddenly alone and cold so cold. Then there was a light and the car was creaking . “We have got a live one here ” Shouted a strong and capable voice I check her life signs take down the information…………

This is part of Lindaghill’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday Today’s prompt is : “information.” Use it as your theme or use the word itself – it’s all up to you. Enjoy!

After you’ve written your Saturday post, please link it here at this week’s prompt page and check to make sure it’s here in the comments so others can find it and see your awesome Stream of Consciousness post. Anyone can join in!