Finishing Up at Gilead Lake

Today I will be taking the remainder of my possessions out of our Gilead Lake home. I have about a carload to move and things to take to Goodwill. Guessing that I will need to put a few boxes in my niece's garage until my next trip back to my sister's next week. My sister, brother, and spouses have been "hovering" as I've gone through this move and auction process. Anne lives only about 10 minutes away and Gary 30 minutes. The actual sorting had to be done by me..hundreds of decisions to make! But the loading of my car and the unloading of my car multiple times I've not done alone. Thank you Griffiths and Troxells. Cale's have helped multiple times on the Bowling Green destination of the move.
So the auction was a success! Spieth & Satow Auctioneer from Coldwater, Michigan was my representative, and they did an amazing job. Just having someone move everything out of the house was priceless! How they organized the auction and the auction itself (which I could not watch)was expertly achieved. I can't say enough about the work crew and auctioneers.
I love the new owners! That huge barn/garage was empty for about 6 hours. They came to the auction and bought Matt's IKEA bed set, the picnic tables, swings, etc. It made me cry happy tears to know that Matt's bed and desk were going back in the house! Also, the pontoon and trailer sold well...new in March 2016 and still on its first tank of gas. So I'm feeling many things, including relief and satisfaction with organizing the move and sale. I even had a sense of Ron telling me that he was proud of me.
The Army way required having quarters left very clean for the next occupants, so that is ingrained in me. Only I didn't want to do it myself (Ha!), so I hired someone to clean yesterday, and Stanley Steamer comes Saturday morning when the house is entirely empty.
I have many things to look forward to in this next phase of my life.
Love, Jan

There were many tables of belongings to auction also.

It's for real.

Tomorrow is the auction of belongings at Gilead Lake. Our home has sold, and the closing will be at the end of the month. I'm trying to hang out in the logical, practical part of my mind. No doubts there. I think that I will feel partially a sense of relief similar to the day that Ron passed away, but knowing that I will also grieve giving up our dream home on Gilead Lake. It will makes things so much simpler to have just the villa in Bowling Green to manage, and I love living there, too.
So today is my last day to live in this home. Preparing it to sell has been my project since mid-April. From listing day to closing day is 4 months, and I was able to enjoy the summer here, so I feel good about how this has played out. I won't have to be concerned with another winter here. This home always was about both of us, not me living here alone. I have wonderful memories to comfort me and know that I have been a lucky girl.

The Sunflower Message from Ron (See below.)

Forever 68

Yesterday was Ron's birthday or the "anniversary of his birth" as a dear friend said. I am in the process of choosing furniture from the villa to take to my auction at Gilead Lake on September 20, so I was emptying Ron's desk here in BG. I found the above writings in his desk. The sunflower card was ready to mail but never sent; I think that I found it on the perfect day. It was signed, "Love, Blue & Ron". So Ron continues to make me laugh, even on the day before his birthday which was a very weepy day for me. My door to door move from Gilead occurred on Saturday, so I had been very busy with getting ready for it, and then Saturday was a long, busy day with the actual move. Sunday arrived, and I had time to think about the many changes in my life, how much I miss Ron, and I was anticipating Monday, Labor Day, which was Ron's birthday. Weepy. As has happened before, the anticipation of a special day for us was much more emotional than the day itself. The blue card was the writing on a card that I had given Ron in 2010 when he was first diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. The card had a small heart-shaped metal medallion that was engraved "forever". He kept that heart on his roll top desk which was moved to BG Saturday; now I have the heart on my kitchen windowsill. I didn't know that he had kept the card and brought it to BG and put it in his desk here in 2014. Ron was a sentimental man and did many things to make me feel special. He sent cards from one home to the other, like the sunflower card, so I would have a note from him when we went back and forth. During the almost 2 years after we retired to Michigan and before he was sick, he planned surprise overnight trips for us to explore Michigan. I only knew the days and what I should pack.
The picture of Ron was taken in 2004 when he was 56 years old. I am remembering his healthy years and trying to put them ahead of the memories of the cruelty of leukemia and graft vs host disease after his transplant. Yet I am so thankful for those extra years we had in spite of the challenges. I miss you Ron.