Papers are signed!

I just returned from signing the papers and escrow closes on Wednesday. This is really happening. I have done a lot of packing. My dear friends, the Bears, are coming for one night tomorrow. They are on their way home from Washington state where their son, Tom lives. We are being hosted at dinner by Mae and Gene, Shirley is coming too. My fridge is getting bare as I am eating so many meals out in the next week. People want to say good bye and it is very nice that they are so loving. I really do not like the good bye parts of all of this. I plan to drive down to Marin with Shirley on the 13th or 14th. The movers still need to notify me of the exact day. Then I will move into my new apartment any where between the 15th and the 17th. So it is all happening very soon.

Saturday, I listened to Othello on the live MET broadcast and packed all of my paintings. I did not realize that I had so many. It took most of the day and I had a great sense of accomplishment when I was all done. There remain 16 paintings that I did not sell. I am donating them to the church. They will store them and use them in their next auction. It feels good to be giving away my art to a good cause.

Stuff must grow in the dark. I have given away so many things and yet every time I open a drawer or look into a cabinet, there lurks some more. I have reduced my book collection to what I consider the real keepers and I still have 10 boxes of books to move. I must have given away at least 100 or more.

Emily has sent me her travel plans. She and Clare take off on Saturday for Ethiopia. I will be moved into my new digs and will be ready to give Elsa a big hug when she arrives 3/26. After being in process for over two years with this adoption it is now just a matter of weeks before Elsa is home for good.