Kalamazoo Week: Music & Packing Up (with Help)

Second Post of the Day

At last! It's Kalamazoo week! And as always, I have to post one of my favorite Big Band songs, (I've Got a Gal in) Kalamazoo.

The first minute is a jazzy intro; the lyrics begin at about 1:00. (Someday I am going to name a model horse, "A Real Pipperoo." LOL)

We lived in Michigan for two years and our oldest, Sarah, was born there. After finishing at Purdue, Craig taught at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant. And, he taught a weekly satellite class at Western Michigan University which is located in Kalamazoo. Another reason this song is near and dear to my heart - Michigan was home for a while.

I was very overwhelmed when I began packing up my tubs and clothing. Getting it all downstairs was going to be difficult. Craig has back and knee issues, and while he is more than willing to help, I protect him as much as I can from anything that requires stairs or lifting.

Getting Jolis Chevaux to the car requires both.

I needed to carry all these garment bags (with one more not pictured) downstairs and to my car.

I'd already gotten two boxes and a tub into the back seat, but still in my office were three more tubs and an apple box of things that needed to be taken downstairs.

To say I felt overwhelmed would be an understatement. Thankfully, Ian came over for Sunday dinner and took all the remaining items downstairs for me. 

By himself. 

With no complaints, even when a hanger caught his hand and pinched it badly.

He packed everything into the trunk and back seat and was finished in about fifteen minutes. I thought I would cry from the sheer relief of having that job done for me. Thank you, buddy. XO

The next step is to drive my things up to Leslie and Rick's farm and help them load the trailer. They will put their own things in first and then add mine in around theirs. (Rick plays a great game of trailer Jenga.)

They head up Wednesday; I don't leave until Friday morning. 

Lucky me, when I arrive, my things will all be inside the building and ready at my booth for me to unpack and set out. That is an enormous help for me. 

It takes a village of muzzleloaders, blacksmiths, leather workers, sewists, tinsmen, and more.

And I am very, very grateful.