To let you know, I'm on a well-deserved break as I write this. Murphy's law states: "Anything that can go wrong will go wrong." Today the movers are back to fill the final POD. Everything was fine until I noticed a several-inch deep scratch on my arm. I don't know how it got there, and I did not even see it until I washed my hands in the bathroom. I grabbed my EDC FAK and operated on myself but needed help from Mom for the final part since I couldn't tape myself with one hand. Given everything else that has happened so far, that was insignificant.

Earlier, Mom asked my neighbor if she could park the SUV in their driveway. That's fine. However, the neighbor's wife backs up their car into our SUV. The damage to the SUV is cosmetic, but this is the worst possible time to deal with insurance. We'll be driving to Texas in a dented SUV and find a body shop later.

As the movers filled the last POD, it all appeared to be going as planned. However, it eventually became apparent that not everything we wanted in the final POD would fit into the last POD. By this time, lower priority items, such as my eight-year-old mattress and box spring, were already strapped in the POD somewhere.

Mom is signing the papers Monday morning and today is Friday. We don't have time to get a third POD. We have to conduct triage. I do a first round of scaling back. Still too much. I have a short word with Mom on why I'm packing what I'm packing. Not including what we will take in the SUV, I get it down to my collapsable cart, a small box, and my American Doll, Samantha.

Mom and I argued over the collapsable cart. I was not going to budge over this one. I'm already reducing my footwear down to four pairs, my six MAG-LITEs down to three, my hand tools down to five, and I'm keeping my folding box cutter which takes up no space anyhow.

I'm glad my blender was already in the first POD. Arguing to keep a blender I don't use anymore would have been a tough battle. I bought a brand new blender (with my own money) and used it a lot when I was still a child.

I'm hoping a couple of first aid items will fit in my suitcase or a bag. If not, I'll see if removing some intimate apparel would make a difference. Even in our current climate, I can still buy more when we get to Texas.

What's amazing about this trying day is that I didn't need my anxiety medication yet.

Jeanette Isabelle