Back to a family of four

The youngest is officially back home. Darcy moved back in July before she left for a two-week camp counseling job. Together, with her friend, the three of us packed and loaded the last loads from her apartment, save for a few minor things. Everything sat in our garage for over a week before the hubby called foul. Then, while Darcy was off interpreting for children camping, Maddy and I went through Darcy's stuff and made a pile of things to keep, toss, and store. Tom took the last pile to our storage unit, and little by little, I moved the keep stuff into the house.

We couldn't put it into her room because we hired our neighbor to build her a closet. Her room was an add-on room by the former house owners. To get into her room, one had to go through Madison's room. We added another door when we moved in, but we solved the closet problem by ignoring it. At the time, we were two adults. How many closets did we need?

After Darcy came along, we purchased armoirs, going up in size as she grew. Now, we're to the point where she's outgrown even those. Well, that and they aren't even made anymore. Madison designed a very nice closet design, and we begged our neighbor for help in building it. He agreed, took measurements, and then got busy in his world of kitchen remodeling. We had to wait.

Then Darcy moved home, and she went over and begged him. Really, she only accompanied Tom to the neighbor's, but her sad, pleading face must have done the trick because a couple weeks later, he said he would do the job. And he did! 

While Darcy was away at camp. It was a nice surprise for her when she came home for all of twenty-four hours. Then she was back at her apartment for job-related things. She officially moved out at the end of the month, turned in her keys, and came home.

Darcy: "The plan is to save money for a year. Here are my dirty clothes."

It's a relief to have them both under my roof. Even though it isn't what either wants. I remember. I lived at home until I moved to Florida before I turned 26. ACK! But now, kids can't afford to live alone. Not here in Florida, where rent for a decent one-bedroom is over $1500. Not during a crazy pandemic where working in person is few and far between. For now, it makes sense they come home.

Darcy is a contractual employee with five interpreting companies. She'll be doing a lot of driving. In the meantime, she's supplementing her income by becoming a barrista. Madison is back to teaching in the classroom. 

Funny how that empty nesting thing didn't last long.