Phase Two – Completed

Today at 9AM the movers showed up and within minutes began to dismantle the house.  

Unfortunately they also opened all the doors and windows.  This served as an open invite to every mosquito in Tokyo to show up for a gaijin feast.  

At one point I found one so bloated that it could barely fly when I cornered it in the bathroom.  After managing to dodge a few shots by hiding behind the toilet, I finally wore him down to the point that I doubt he felt a thing when I finished him off on the side of the washer.    

Meanwhile slowly but surely the house began to empty one box at a time.  All in all you feel bad watching this for three reasons…

1. It’s really weird to see all of your possessions packed up by a bunch of Japanese men and shuttled off to the back of a truck.
2. The movers do everything.   Your job is to basically sit and periodically annoy them to say, “Oh, I might need that!” or “Hmmm, I think that has a box somewhere?”
3. You suddenly learn how much dust, dirt, and dog hair you miss each week when you sweep up.  

Speaking of dog hair, the most random moment of the day came at around 2:30 when the dog walker showed up.  M assured me before she left that she contacted them to cancel.  Either way, with all that’s going on I wasn’t really shocked, only a bit embarrassed when I stared dumbfounded at her as she arrived  at the front door.  Within moments I managed to put everything together and apologized profusely for taking up her time. 

As for the guys, they didn’t miss a beat as this awkward moment transpired and by 5PM had everything packed tightly into the back of the truck.  

An hour later when Gizmo got home from puppy camp, he quickly surveyed the situation and gave me the look of…

“What?  First Mommy, now this?!?!”

Honestly I can’t blame him, as hearing the echo of the keyboard off the barren walls only serves as yet another reminder that we need to get out of here.  

For now, we’ll manage.  Of course it’ll only be a matter of time though before I realize I accidentally had something packed I shouldn’t have…like a toothbrush.