the return trip

Sun 1.15.23

My storage space was flooded, the space that contains all of my worldly possessions.  You know, from the 48 hours pack-your-things and get out eviction in which two national corporations did not take kindly to my complaint about mold making me sick.  Bad guys, who I took to federal court, pro se, in a case that’s been ongoing for the past 3 and a half years.  It is slowly moving toward resolution shortly.

The eviction was last May.  I decamped from Portland and made my way to Rockland, a coastal town where I have been ever since.  I’m committed to Rockland and want to settle here.  Life Storage where my household goods are stored is a big operation with franchises throughout the country.  I’ve been going through hell all this week in fear that everything was ruined.  Apparently Life’s sprinkler system went awry and flooded the place.  Pictures of Mom, daughter Diane, official documents, the desktop computer, printer, oh god!  By the end of week when we were allowed to enter the premises I had resolved to accept what Spirit was dishing out.  I was not my belongings and I would move on with my life and create anew.  The place was a wreck with chalky mud and wet puddly floors, pipes all over the place, hoses, many, many industrial fans and overhead improvised blown-air system.  

My documents are fine, as is my computer and printer.  I’ve lost my mattress and boxspring.  My clothes will need major cleaning, I’ve lost some art work, but then the Peruvian tapestry was not damaged and the good rug might dry.

On the day that we moved my furnishings to the storage unit, I grabbed among my clothes what was suitable for a short while, my leather jacket, 3, 4 pairs of yoga pants, some tops and underwear.  This is what I’ve been wearing for the past 7 months.  Returning to see my former life stored in that unit, mostly I felt relieved that the person who owned all that stuff had not been completely obliterated.  I would take her with me going forward.  Ease would come back into my life.

What I have gained from the experience is incomparable.  I have become dauntless because I have nothing to lose.  I will risk it all.  That’s what it comes down to.  Life is an adventure and all of it is purposeful; I’m on for the full ride.  I left the storage unit which will be returned to its former state and my stuff placed back in, and I took with me the files for my federal case, a clock, a good winter jacket and snow boots, then my business suit and my good coat.  It starts again.