“How many days until it happens?” Mom asked this question multiple times a day. And every time she asked it, sometimes only minutes after she had previously asked it, I reminded myself that in her mind this was the first time she was asking. And yet, I still got tired of answering. Because no matter what my answer, her response was, “Why so long? Why can’t we move in today?” And in my head I had to remind myself that even though I feel that we’re moving super quickly (I reached out to a realtor on Dec 28; I’m closing on Feb 22; we’re moving on Feb 23) for Mom there’s only the present.

So we made a paper chain, with each link one day. At first the chain reached from high on the curtain rod close to the floor. And a week later it was to the window sill. And a week later it was high enough that I had to tear off the link because Mom couldn’t reach it.

And this was what I saw today.

And with the increase of Mom’s excitement, I felt more anxiety. There are boxes to be packed! Had I changed my address on everything that needs to be changed? Have I signed up for all the requisite utilities? What have I forgotten? And oh, there are more boxes to be packed…

And with all the anxiety for all the things that have yet to be done, there’s also a palpable excitement. We’ll be making a home that each of us will be able to call ours. We’ll be creating a space that we’ll each love and cherish. And, once again, we’ll each be building our forever home.