The Move

THE MOVE

Her fingernails were so tiny that the brush from the bottle of the nail polish was almost too big. Bubble gum pink on this finger, light pink on this one and purple on the next. And so the pattern continued until all 10 fingers, and all 10 ten toes, were freshly coated.

Would she stay still long enough for the polish to dry? Only time would tell.

She was three with pigtails and tiny white teeth that were bright and white when she smiled, which was often. She was happy and vivacious and carefree. She was Olivia.

He was a thinker, even at the young age of three. Building with magnetic tiles, and Legos with his Poppa, his imagination was at work constantly. There were also Star Wars figures and Hot Wheel cars lined up in the living room, ready for whatever adventure his mind could think up on any given day. He was Owen.

Together they made quite a pair; The Twins, or The Babies were the title given to them, because they were indeed twins, born only a minute apart; and they were the babies, the last littles in the family. They brought life and happiness and joy, and sometimes noise and confusion, to any room they entered.

They were the apple of their Meme’s eye!

The room was filled with boxes, some empty, some half-filled with clothes or toys, and others already tightly closed and taped up, ready for the moving van. Little feet could be heard running up and down the hall, not fully understanding what was happening.

“Why are my toys in that box, Meme?” Olivia asked. “I want to play with them!” She had a little whine to her voice, but Meme was understanding and gently explained, again.

“You, and Owen, and Momma and Daddy, and all your toys are going to be living in a new house! We have to pack all your toys in the boxes so they can ride in the big truck to the house. All your toys will be there waiting on you when you get there! Isn’t that exciting?”

“Can I at least hold my doll. I don’t want her in the box.”

“OK, here she is, my sweet girl. Run and play with Owen so I can finish and get these boxes on the truck.”

As she skipped out of the room, Owen made his way in. “Look, Meme!”

Meme looked over and Owen had at least three Hot Wheels cars in each front pocket and two or three action figures in his back pockets of his jeans. She smiled, gave him a quick hug and sent him on his way with his sister.

The sky was dark as they pulled out of the driveway the next morning. A small caravan of vehicles; In front was Poppa driving the moving truck, next was Momma with the twins and filled boxes, and then Meme, in her car, also loaded down with boxes and clothes and lamps and such, all heading out for the 8-hour drive.

As each mile passed, Meme’s mind was flooded with memories.

The twins were born on a Friday. They were 6 weeks early but determined and strong. Meme remembered seeing them in the NICU with tubes and tape and buzzers and bandages. Holding each one of them for the first time, as tiny as they were, brought tears to her eyes, as did the memory.

She remembered traveling with them to see their Daddy graduate from Boot Camp. What a wonderful time as a family; and what a proud moment for a sweet little family. Watching Daddy stand so proud in his uniform, showing the world what he had accomplished made the twins proud, too; even as young as they were.

The traffic was a friend on the long drive. No traffic hold-ups; no bad weather. It was one of the smoothest drives Meme had ever experienced as a driver. Time went by too quickly. Before she knew it they had arrived.

And there was Daddy standing in the driveway, waiting. It looked as though he had been waiting forever for his family to arrive. It had been far too long since they had been together in the same house. He guided Poppa into the driveway to unload the moving van. He opened the door for Momma and gave her a tight hug and a kiss that lasted too long for the twins! They giggled and squealed as Daddy got them out of their car seats.

Everyone walked inside and toured the new house. The bedrooms were big and beautiful, the kitchen was the perfect size for cooking and family dinners, the living room was the right size for a couch and a recliner, ready for family time.

The next two days were busy. Everyone helped unloading the moving van-even the twins. They carried small boxes od silverware, pots and pans and toys into the house. Momma was unpacking and making the house their new home. Daddy was unloading the couch and washer and dryer with Poppa. Meme did what she could to help; she helped the twins unload and unpack and she helped Momma get the kitchen ready for dinner the first night.

In the evening everyone went for a walk around the neighborhood. The twins rode in their wagon taking everything in. There was a playground with a slide and swings. The neighborhood was full of big old trees with leaves and plenty of shade for the playground and for evening walks. There were families outside, children playing and Moms and dads watching or playing too. Everyone was welcoming and kind, watching and waving as the newest family on base said hello!

The morning for Meme and Poppa’s departure came too fast for Meme. She dreaded so many things that morning. She dreaded having her last breakfast with the twins, she dreaded getting dressed, knowing that meant she was one step closer to having to leave. She dreaded the drive home. She dreaded the tears she knew were inevitable; tears from Momma and daddy, tears from the twins, tears from Poppa, and tears from her. Good-byes are hard.

She made a deal with the twins on this dreaded morning. As Poppa loaded her suitcase into the car she and the twins decided “good-bye” was too harsh a word to say; “good-bye” was too hard to say. They decided together that whenever they had to leave each other there would be no “good-bye”. Instead they decided to say, “Love you more and I will see again before you know it!”

Never “Good-bye”.

Hugs were given all around. Poppa hugged Momma and Daddy and the twins; Daddy hugged Poppa and Meme. Momma hugged Poppa and Meme. Then Meme hugged the twins. Her heart was bursting with happiness and sadness at the same time.

Sho got in the car.

Momma, Daddy, Owen and Olivia stood on the porch as Poppa and Meme drove away. Meme waved through the window until they couldn’t see them anymore.

Meme stared out the window for a long time, through some sunshine, through some rain, on the way home.