Everything was so wet that I was starting to grow mold. I used my right big toe to scratch vigorously at the new itchy patch on the bottom of my left foot. In the pre-dawn light seeping in the 3rd-floor bedroom skylights of my new home, I lay in bed, listening to the rain pounding against the roof. A gloomy sound, but we were here, finally.
It had been only 2 days since we had seen the sun, but with the damp chill in the air, it seemed like much longer. It felt much more like October than the first of August, but the weather had been odd this year. A late, cold spring burst overnight into a hot, steamy couple of weeks of summer, early on. Then, it all melted away in July, as if summer had spent itself and retreated into an early, wet fall.
We had loaded our van under a steely-gray sky and a light misting drizzle. Jeremy and Glen clamped on the shiny aluminum cover of the immense car top carrier, confident (hopeful?) that the caulk in all the new screw holes would in fact prove watertight.
At 3 PM, the van was finally loaded. There was a tiny cavity in the third row of seats, just enough for a child to wriggle into and sit. The other side was folded flat and piled nearly to the roof, with just enough room to see out the rear window. The carrier on top was a solid block of belongings, all 26.5 cubic feet packed with what we thought would be the essentials for our family for a year. Four bikes were strapped on the rear end hitch carrier, with the baby trailer tucked safely inside the van. A final inspection showed the rear tires were noticeably flattened under the weight, and the clearance looked too small for even a tennis ball to roll underneath the trailer hitch. Still, it was all in and the doors were shut.
It was a welcome relief to be on schedule. With our intended departure time still an hour away, we could collect ourselves and our emotions, and enjoy a last visit with loved ones. The adults and older kids played one last board game together (Seven Wonders) while the younger ones relished a last few minutes playing with cousins at Grandma's house. Then, it was time.
There were hugs all around, a last photo opportunity, and finally cheerful waves as we crept down the long driveway. Our Boston year had finally begun.
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