Well … life went on.
Last week started with …
“It’s time to go.” said Bear.
“But where are we going?” asked Rabbit.
“Forward,” said Bear, “we can’t stay here anymore.”
“So much has happened here though. I don’t know that I can move on.” said Rabbit.
“You can stay if you want,” said Bear, “but life won’t wait with you.”
“It won’t?” asked Rabbit.
“No,” said Bear, “besides, up ahead there might be something wonderful.”
“You think so?” asked Rabbit.
“I think…” said Bear, “if you stay here, you’ll never know.”
~~~
Then last wednesday, a Masonic Brother and friend of Mark’s, who is a realtor and knew all about my situation (being rejected for residency at the Masonic “Home” in Covina), called to tell us a doublewide manufactured home in a planned community called Victorian Village just south of McCloud would go on the market the end of the week.
On thursday Ross took me over to see the house. It is two bedrooms plus an office, two baths, a completely new kitchen, central ac and heating plus a Monitor heater backup, inside freshly painted, a large porch off the north side of the house, a small garden area which I can redo to an herb garden with a lilac and lavender, a garden shed, and an auxiliary generator wired to kick in when the power goes out (after all, it is mountains and weather is a factor). I knew I could be happy there.
I met the lady who lives next door (Diane) and her son told me he takes care of the trash for his mother and another lady on the cul de sac (did I mention it was on a cul de sac so traffic will be about the same as it has been here or more likely less) and he would include me at no charge.
The land rental in the community is less than $500/month and includes water, trash, and snowplowing … which can be a big thing in McCloud.
The only down item was the lack of flooring. The carpeting had been torn out but the seller offered a $3,000 allowance in the house price to cover the cost of replacement (which was upped to $4,000 in the final agreement).
What was there to not like? I told Ross to make a bid.
The minute the place went on the market, Ross entered my bid.
Friday afternoon Ross called me to say we had a verbal acceptance which would be finalized on monday when I went to the Title company, deposited my “earnest” money ($1,000) and signed papers.
As a result, on the first of September, I will own a home in the small town of McCloud, which is actually more the size of a village. It is on the east side of the Mountain, only 11.4 miles from Mt Shasta via CA-89N – i.e. the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway. That is about the same driving distance as from where George and I lived for so many years into Mt Shasta.
I will end the rest of my years where I am comfortable, amid pines and firs, seeing the Mountain from a different angle, know where all the south County stores are, and have friends. In addition, the price was $100,000 less than the buy-in to the “Home” in Covina.
It was a miracle.
Thank you to all of those who aided with prayers, meditations, and positive affirmations.
~~~
The one remaining problem turned out to be not a problem. I have to be out of this place by next saturday. I checked out motels in re week-at-a-time occupancy and found one with a good offer.
Then I was talking with a friend who spends part of each year in Israel (where she is now) and asked if she would consider a house sitter at her place in Mt Shasta and she and her husband said YES. So I will be there for about three weeks until the sale is final (scheduled for the 1st of September) and new flooring is installed. In the meantime I am packing up things I thought I would have to leave behind but can now take with me!!!
I will keep you posted on the progress.
~~~
Weather remained HOT until it turned cold. Roller Coaster …
The Dixie fire is still out of control so we are again smoke covered a lot of the time.
There are several new fires. Among the larger ones are one to the southwest and one to the east. None are headed toward us.
… and for the first time in recorded history, there is NO snowpack on the Mountain and the glaciers which were there when I moved here are nearly non-existent and melting.
~~~
Next big step for changing my residence into a home is finding a flooring installer who isn’t already booked into October or later due to the influx of new owners in this area.
The carpeting had been torn out in my new house (it must have been soiled) and I am having it replaced with vinyl fake wood paneling. I had hoped it could be done asap.
One bid was for more than $8,805 and couldn’t start until the first of October.
Another bid came in close to the same cost but with an installation date of the 15th to 17th of September.
Then a nursing friend who married into a longtime McCloud family (the McIntosh clan) suggested I call a flooring provider who married a Bambino (also a McCloud clan) who works out of Redding.
So I got treated like family and the bid I accepted was with Jim Roth for $5,517.34 and it will be installed the weekend before Labor Day meaning I can move in the tuesday after Labor Day.
Only obstacle left is finding help removing the carpet stripping and the padding staples from the area to be refloored.
Positive thoughts needed … again.
~~~
Mark et al aren’t sleeping in the house any longer. They too are preparing to vacate Cold Comfort Farm in favor of the new owners and have taken to their sleeping set-up in their 40’ with pop-outs which they call the “Mansion”.
~~~
If all this sounds chaotic … welcome to my world.
~~~
Now, at the end of this episode of my life …
I am no longer waiting for a special occasion; I burn the best candles on ordinary days.
I am no longer waiting for the house to be clean; I understand that even dust is Sacred.
I am no longer waiting for everyone to understand me; it’s not their task.
I am no longer waiting for the other shoe to drop; it already did, and I survived.
I am no longer waiting for the time to be right; the time is always now.
I am no longer waiting for a quiet moment; my heart can be stilled whenever it is called.
I am no longer waiting for the world to be at peace; I unclench my grasp and breathe Peace and Love, Peace and Love in and out.
I am no longer waiting to do something great; being awake to carry my grain of sand is enough.
I am no longer waiting to be recognized. I know I dance in a holy circle.
So … ‘til next week …