Milestone Part 2

Friday evening was spent getting things packed and staged for the big move the following morning. Boxes began to pile up and my apartment began to look more and more bare. When I finally turned in, I knew that by the same time the next day my place would looked so empty that it would only barely betray any sign of actual human habitation.

The next morning I rose before the sun, showered, dressed and ran out to grab coffee for myself and for Marcus and Mike, the two friends who’d agreed to help me get loaded up. Marcus arrived with the truck as planned and we commenced to carry boxes to the truck. Mike was nowhere in sight and we both figured that he’d probably had a rough night and was feeling the pain this morning. We were correct. When he did finally arrived he looked pretty, well… ragged. We got the rest of my stuff loaded in very short order and capped it off with my couch and loveseat.

We bid Mike good day and then Marcus and I hopped in the cab of the truck and began our journey. The first stop would be to a house in West Des Moines where we’d be unloading the couch and loveseat to the guy that was purchasing them. Twenty minutes later, with $500 cash in my pocket we were finally ready for the long drive to KC.

Along the way we enjoyed some great discussions about a variety of topics, but largely about work and the future for each of us. Can’t say we arrived at any conclusions, but it was good to get his perspective on things. The next six months should prove interesting… for everybody.

In KC we were met by my friends Mike and Matt and within 30 minutes we had everything unloaded and stored away at my parents house. I know that helping your friends move is never a “fun” proposition, but I have to say, I do a damn good job of having everything packed and ready to go so my friends don’t have to waste any time dealing with an assorted mess. As far as moving goes, I’m a freaking professional!

By 1:30pm , Marcus and I were enjoying a good meal and some cold beers at Chilis before hitting the road to get back to Des Moines. Five hours after that, we were back in town and I was walking into my apartment. Empty, lonely, nothing except some clothes, a small television, and a couple of boxes. This would be “home” for the next week… though it hardly felt like any kind of home at all.

I contemplated stepping out and enjoying the nightlife one last time on my own, but my weariness from the day’s activities soon killed that notion and I thought it best to just stay in. I set up a collapsible captains chair and made a tall rum and coke and zoned out to the television for the rest of the night.

One of the little habits I had gotten into over the last three years was to enjoy a few strong drinks at home on a Saturday night while listening to music or watching a movie. On the one hand, it’s been a good alternative to going out on the town and getting myself into trouble. On the other, the fact that I’m drinking alone, at home, on a Saturday night (pretty much every week) is also kind of a sad commentary on how shallow my existence here in Des Moines has become.

I’ve never been afraid of being on my own and blazing my own trail, but my acceptance of solitude only goes so far. The fact is, I’ve become very lonely here and it’s definitely time to leave. I have a lot to offer and I deserve better than this.