Contemplation of Changes

 How do you like change? All at once, or slowly over time?

I've been contemplating how I like change. Going to Africa was a change as soon as we left on the airplane. We had to react, move, adjust, and figure out what we were doing. It is a good way to go through a change, though it can feel like moving in a dream for a bit. Julia and Mike told us they were moving on March 15. It is now May and some of their possessions are still at our house. This has been a gradual adjustment to not having people living in our home. In fact, they come over to do their laundry every week and sometimes pop in for errands. 

We decided to upgrade the house a little bit and paint all the rooms an off white. Some of the bedrooms have dark blue, grey, or peach colors. We are not redoing the upstairs at the present time. One of the bedrooms upstairs is purple and the halls are a soft tan color. But I am feeling the need for brightness and light, so this time the main floor will be white. 

In the preparation stage, I have found I don't know where things are. It has been one constant in the return to "normal" after each mission. Things have been put in a different place or are gone altogether - most of the time I don't know which.

So, trying to unscrew without a Phillips screwdriver was frustrating. Yes, I could run down to ACE and buy another set - or reorganize the garage to find the old set (if it is still around).  The frustration is trying to do anything without a whole domino effect going on, one decision sets up a chain of other events. Where is the beginning? Even the idea of painting is being challenged because to "do it right" we should put the new lights and fan in the living room - which sets off taking down the popcorn ceiling paint, opening walls and the ceiling to insert wiring, fan and lights, texturing, and finally painting. Do we "do it right" with all the extra costs and time, or decide to brighten the house for now with paint and a new lamp? Since Jeffrey is not bringing in a monthly check, we have to decide exactly what we can do right now and what we want to do later.

I decided to use a butterknife to unscrew the screws. Organize, find, or buy will be decisions for later.

Yes, it is possible, but takes FOREVER by hand. I have found that anything that Michael has screwed in for his children's safety will have two or three inch screws. Did he put them in with a drill? Whatever, it all took LOTS of time. Probably should have bought a new set of screwdrivers...