Wednesday, June 13, 2007

The Closing

We closed on the NC home on May 11th. On Wednesday, in all the heavy smoke from the Georgia wildfire, the Captain and friend Art loaded up the 10' rental truck they would come north in on Friday. My friend Jean and I drove the 490 miles on Thursday, bought a 32" flat screen TV and a DVD player, as well as a microwave that night before falling into bed early. Friday morning we had to get verification of insurance, so hunted up the agent's location and headed to the beautiful old but remodeled building where the lawyer had his offices. The closing was a bit bumpy. The title was temporarily missing, and that was our backer's ONLY requirement. He also insisted that his Park Avenue lawyer speak with the NC lawyer before the signing of documents. While corrections were being made in the spelling of the street name, the two lawyers spoke. Then I signed what was necessary and my realtor came with us to the trailer, where she discovered that she could not open the lock box. We went to buy two queen size beds, so everyone would have a place to sleep that night. The requirement was they be delivered that day - and we had to confirm that because NO ONE wanted to sleep on the floor! We did find the beds, in stock, and able to be brought to the trailer and set up that day!

Meanwhile, Captain and Art were lumbering along in the truck. The lawyer had insisted Anthony sign the papers on Friday afternoon, or we could not take possession till Monday! The hustled north over the mountain pass and arrived at 4:10. We raced to the lawyer's and he signed!! Then we all unloaded the truck into the 80 degree house (the air was struggling to cool it down on a hot day) and when finished, we went out to eat in a little Mexican restaurant on Patton Avenue. We had to pick up some supplies as well, but that was fairly quick.

What a good foursome we made! We had wonderful and interesting conversations ranging from polygamy to homelessness, from St. Augustine to the Bahamas and to the NY metropolitan area. Jean and Art each took a very quick shower. Did I say that the hot water was not yet working? The well water was icy!

We had the electrician in the next day and got the hot water working. We still couldn't fire up the stove (powered by propane) so we were eating rotisserie chicken from the Ingles up the road (did I mention we are 5 minutes from THREE big supermarkets?)

On Sunday, we drove up the Blue Ridge Parkway to just over a mile high Craggy Gardens. Then we came down a wonderful dirt backroad to Barnardsville. The end of that road in the Park was a community of trailers with cars on blocks, etc. That was kind of surprising, as the whole Asheville area has an urbanity and sophistication that is at first surprising and then one of the characteristics one comes to expect. But more about this, later.

It was really a lovely trip. On Saturday afternoon, Art went downtown to explore, and we all joined him later for a quick walking tour and dinner. Sadly, he ate something spoiled and spent the night sick from food poisoning!

On Monday we drove back to FL.

On Sunday, we were sitting on the front deck and a bank of clouds moving west over Asheville, darkening the city below, seemed about to plow into our little home! We were almost above that bank of clouds. How wonderful!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I'm glad that you finally got your dream vacation house. The views are lovely.

three on the futon

three on the futon

5th Anniversary of the Stroke

Nearly 5 years ago, I suffered a stroke that left me with numbness and lack of coordination of my right hand and arm. For awhile, I could not speak normally, and I couldn't say my husband's name. With time and occupational and massage therapy, sensation began to return. My speech cleared up within the month. I relearned how to brush my teeth and hair, how to butter toast, how to handle a fork. I used a speech program on the computer for several months, because my right hand could not type. I am very grateful for the lessons I learned from this experience. After 5 years, a person is considered to be at no increased risk of having another CVA (cerebrovascular accident). That's my upcoming milestone!
Thirteen Things about YOUR NAME
1…. Start your list here! Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)
Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!