The First Night's The Hardest

I clean. It's what I do.

Angry, happy, depressed or even excited - give me a mop, some earth-friendly disinfectant and watch me work my magic. People come into my home, take deep breaths, and immediately feel healthier. A touch of lemon in the air, or is it orange? They don't know. They just stretch out on my couch and smile.

It's a gift.

Which is why I almost went apesh*t yesterday when our buyers held up closing because they wanted $200 for a professional cleaner.

My *ass*. I'm better than a professional. I move furniture and get those hard to reach places. IN MY UNDERWEAR. So to suggest that somehow my work is inadequate...well...is akin to playing with fire.

We told these insulting clods to pound dirt and eventually they came to their senses. But not before I called all my neighbors and gossiped about our replacements - The Assholes. Welcome to Wesley Chapel!

Then we left. For good. Or at least until Thanksgiving when we'll be back to drink and alienate relatives who've just started to miss us. Can't wait.

Now I'm about to get sad and mushy so if that sort of thing makes you uncomfortable, f*ck off.

This first night has been rough for several reasons. I won't get into the alphabetized list, although mentally I can get up to "y" without pausing for a breath. Let me just say this, saying goodbye/starting over gets harder as I get older.

Stopped in Tallahassee and could hardly breathe. And no, it's not because we should be visiting Governor Jim Davis. Although...

Seriously, how can someone be happy and heartbroken at the same time?

We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn and I watched my children swim in the pool after dinner, taking advantage of the warm evening air while we can. It's beautiful here. They're ready for our new adventure and so am I. I just keep looking back every once in a while hoping to see a familiar face. A face I love. A face I miss.

I'll probably do that a few more times before remembering to look forward and notice the beautiful mountains waiting for us. Just a few more times and then I'll stop.

Promise.