Leaving Raleigh

Tuesday, January 3, was moving day. My sister Joan came over to say good-bye, retrieve her house key, and pick up ours. She was deputized to help move our mattress out to the street. (Sleeping on the mattress has been a challenge, but we didn't want to buy a new one and have to move it.) We packed the car, went to Car Max to sell the Smart, deposited the check, and left town.

The best decision we made was to accept an invitation to stop en route and stay with friends in Roanoke, Virginia. We had a totally relaxing visit and left the next morning free of the stresses of moving. We met Mike and Becky in Arizona in 1976; they are among our oldest friends. Over 20 years ago Mike accepted a job at Roanoke College. Since then we have visited each other at least annually. Our visit reminded us that long good-byes are often less long than expected.

This year Becky retired from her library position at Roanoke College to care of her grandson Ethan during the day. The photo was taken in the morning - apparently Ethan did not find our breakfast conversation stimulating. By age Michael's retirement is years away and by disposition he may teach until they take him out feet first. As an English professor he can develop a course theme, select books around the theme, and then read and discuss them with a class. Seems less painful that going through the details of how a civil service does or should operate. Of course, he still has to read student papers.