I have earned some rank for being experienced with military moves. Having a house packed up and ready to go in a couple of week’s time, is not that difficult. It is all temporary stress and nervous energy that keeps you moving to get the job done. Once everything is on the moving truck, many say, “Say good-bye to your stuff.” A quirky saying for something so serious, but I’ve heard it hundreds of times from friends and neighbors throughout our career. But you know, it is true, because all the matters is what you have inside your personal vehicle and possibly the U-Haul behind it. Now, I am not saying that losing everything you own is not devastating and fortunately, that has never happened to us. I actually always looked forward to the moment the moving truck closed it’s doors and pulled away. It seemed my life was suddenly simple and not filled with material things.

As I am packing the necessities for an evacuation, looking around the house, there is not that much that I will feel bad about if I leave it behind. I won’t have a U-Haul, just my vehicle with my 3 kids, 4 cats and Chulo the Stupor Dog. I love pictures and will have those with me, along with some military memorabilia, and some jewelry. Hubby will have his truck filled with his belongings…and we are off. We can’t look back and we can’t worry about the pine tree next door that is leaning over our roof.

My job, is to get the kids and pets to a place that is safe and make sure they will be cared for. I’ve got that covered. As I watch people around me panic, I feel guilty that I am amazingly calm in this current situation.

Stacy, get ready for the Perry family!