Back in a NY groove

Somehow I managed to pack an additional 3 bags in the course of the night in the morning and know I can't worry about it.  I think to myself, "Just throw it on the passenger seat and get to Roni's."  I am a few blocks away when she texts me, "Do you want anything from Dunkin Donuts?"  I can't respond let alone think about eating.  I show up as she's walking over to DD's and ask for a sesame bagel w cream cheese and a water.  I think I took a total of 3 bites.

She's so friendly and sweet it puts me at ease.  I give her a hug and start to cry.  "I'm actually moving to Portland!"  She tells me that I can still back out, but I won't.

Now there has been an issue with one of her guinea pigs eyes.  She needs drops 3-4 times a day or her eyes will get crusty and give her head a paralysis which makes it tilt in one direction, which she already slightly has.  Hazel the guinea pig is coming with us.  Luckily she fits in front of Roni's feet.

We re-organize the car and roll out.

Driving through Boston was a breeze.  It's somehow 60 degrees in the end of December and the sun really was trying to come out.  Somewhere in Connecticut it starts to drizzle and spit rain at us.  As I play a blues CD I start to think of Michael's mom and how much we have bonded over the years and of the glass guardian angel she gave me to watch over my journey.  I need to change this CD!!!

I open a CD case I haven''t looked in awhile and Weezer's blue album is the first one.  I excitedly throw it in.  "This one reminds of Long Island", I tell Roni.

Entering NY we start hitting traffic.  The rain starts hammering down and somehow we got into Yonkers????.  It's now almost 4pm and we haven't even went over the Throgs Neck Bridge yet.  I know we are going to get stuck in bad traffic from here on out.

Tommy, my dog is an 11.5 pound chihuahua/papillon who is also taking this journey with us.  His puppy seat was originally intended to fit on the console but there is no freaking way that this is possible.  However, it fits diagonally in front of the console so he is practically on me and Roni's lap.  Somehow it works.

He was my major variable this trip.  How is he going to do in the car for so long?

In this new little car seat he sleeps and kisses Roni's hand to the point that she is hysterically laughing.  He has a short leash on his harness so he can't do more than turn around in his little puppy seat, but I am so happy to report he barely budged for all of the 7 hours we sit in the car.

Once I hit the Throgs Neck it takes me almost 2 hours to drive around 20 miles to get to Magoo's job.  Here I need her keys to drop off the pets and get my butt over to my parents.  6pm turns into 8pm when I finally get at my parents front door.

I am prepping my Xmas gifts to them when I hear my mom say, "Jim?"

"No ma, it's me!"

And I finally get my mothers hug.

My dad shows up and we eat pizza and talk about where I am going next.  My mom said her nerves have been shot all day, knowing this was the day I was leaving.  I told her my hard part was over.

Although I will have a lot of stress on the road in a packed car with another girl, her guinea pig and a dog.  This begins my journey.  And for that I am grateful.

I get to Mr. Beery's at almost 10pm, where I attempted to meet a couple dozen friends, but it's pouring rain and I know most people won't show.  Roni texted me when she got there at 9pm, "this place is empty and divey."  I tell her she's in the right place.

A handful of friends show up and it's perfect.  We drink good beer and catch up and tell each other where this next year of our lives will take us.  It's a good freaking night.