A Better Friday

My last post was about a rough Monday.

Today is Friday.  Much better. 

On Monday and then carried over into Tuesday, we found out the house we were in contract to buy in Madison was defunct.  We tried.  We really did.  We went up as far in price as we felt like we could go in an effort to meet the sellers at the dollar amount they indicated they needed in order to make the deal work for them.  While we thought we were trying to hash out the details, the sellers accepted an offer from another buyer. 

There are many emotional ups and downs in the home buying process.  The negotiations.  The secretiveness.  The dichotomy of what the sellers want (highest price) versus what the buyers want (lowest price).  The waiting.  The uncertainty of the contingencies; appraisals, inspections, financing. 

After the deal on 12 Quinn crashed and burned, I spent a few days in the middle part of this week feeling sad, depressed, and desperate.  After all, I have to be out of my current apartment by August 31 and we will be closing on the sale of our house in Columbus by August 31 also~ meaning Scott, the pets, and I all need someplace to live come Sept 1.  I wondered,  where are we going to go?  Wednesday evening, I could not stop crying.  I didn't have an answer to that question.

I looked at a rental house.  It was OK, but there was a tug in my heart.  It just didn't feel right.  I don't want to live in temporary housing anymore.  When I moved here on December 31, 2009, I had a 5 month sub-lease at an apartment.  At the end of 5 months, I extended that lease one month.  Then I moved to another apartment with a 2 month sub-lease.  I am tired of temporary housing.  I want to get settled somewhere.  I want to unpack my sh*t.  I want to have a Christmas tree this year.  I want to know where my bottle of clear nail polish is.  (Could I buy another bottle of clear nail polish?  Yes.  But that's not really the point.)

So, here is the latest.  Things are more optimistic today.  The current status is this:  we submitted a contract to buy the house we had identified as our back-up to 12 Quinn.  Preliminary indications are that the contract will fly. If it does, there is still hope that we can be in a house here in Madison (actually in Stoughton) by the first of September.  Not much time.  September 1 is 2 1/2 weeks away.  This deal is going to have to unfold like clockwork.  But it's possible.  We are praying and hoping upon hope.

Not only is today a better day because we have renewed optimism that we can actually come together as a family (me, Scott, Rudy, Jada, Isaac, and Simon) in a permanent home by the end of the month, it's also a better day because of the support of friends.... and an unexpected source.

• My dear friend Stefanie.  She is the home decorating expert.  After we submitted the contract for the back-up home (Chapin Court), I immediately had buyers remorse.  My heart was racing, but not as fast as my mind was.  My stomach was in knots.  I was panicked.  Once I got back to my apartment after work, Stefanie and I simultaneously got on line and looked through the pictures of the Chapin Court house on the MLS.  Stefanie was enthusiastic.  She said she loved the house and immediately had some decorating ideas to share.  It felt so good to be..... encouraged.  Thank you Stefanie!!

• My dear friend Jeano.  Talk about well-timed mail.  I had a package in my mailbox today that contained a sweet gift from Jeano, who wrote the following post on her blog:  Ode to a Pen.  I have a post on this blog about pens, too.  Obsession Confession.  Jeano and I are kindred spirits.  She sent me the following gift and note. Especially after such a trying week, it was an extra special delight to find this fun treat in the mail.  Thank you Jeano!! 

It's called "Pen Again" and is dubbed "the most comfortable pen in the world!".  (I wonder if this is finally the pen that will make me have good handwriting.....?)

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  An unexpected source.  Since coming to Wisconsin, I have struggled in my working relationship with one of my employees.  There are a whole host of reasons for the struggles, which I won't go into here.  Recently, things seem to be improving as we get to know each other better and understand each other more.  She asked me the other day about my housing situation here.  I told her the same thing I wrote above about wanting to unpack my sh*t, wanting to have a Christmas tree this year, and wanting to know where my clear nail polish is.  I was in my office this morning, with the door closed, on a conference call.  After the call ended, I opened my office door to find a hot pink gift bag hanging on the door knob.  It was from the employee with whom I have struggled.  Inside the bag was a "cope" card and the following items.  

Some clear nail polish and nail polish remover.  I was touched.  Not only was it thoughtful, it was funny and personal.  

Today was a better day.  There was a break in the dark clouds.  A little optimism shined down.  And I'm humbled by and grateful for the gestures of caring and support that come my way from both friends and unexpected sources.