Today is the Day!!! We finally get to move into our new house and get all of our belongings back and attempt to return to a somewhat “normal” life. We all woke early with an extra zest in our step. Hotel hopping and eating out was getting really old for us. As we loaded up the car for the last time it felt good to know I would not have to repack the car anytime soon!

We decided to stop quickly at Starbucks before the meeting to sign final paperwork for the house. Tiffany and Cokes (Nicole) leave me and the boys in the car while they run inside. The AC is on since it was already 100 degree with humidity in Columbus. Tiffany returned and made a comment “our gas light is on.”  Everything is good in my world as I’m finally sucking down some coffee.

Two minutes into our drive on I-180 South, Tiffany starts to panic “I have no power, I’m pushing the gas SCOTTY and nothing is happening.” In a split second I feel our car being jerked across medians and then comes to an instant stop. “We’re out of gas, we’re out of gas” is all I hear Tiffany saying. The panic in her voice ends quickly. She is off in a flash to go get gas.

Cokes and I are in the car with the two boys. I ask Cokes, “are we off to the side?” She replies with a giggle, “No, Scotty we are right in the middle lane.” I think to myself that is the worst place to be, “Everyone stay buckled, if we want to be shot to the moon, this is the place where it would happen.”

A cop stopped by our car to see if everything was okay and we let him know we did not need his assistance. Little did I know that we are in a rough area of Columbus.

Tiffany just happened to be at a gas station where the clerk was behind bullet proof glass. I made the mistake of calling Tiffany to check in and see how she was doing and mentioned that the police officer had offered assistance.

I did not see Tiffany coming towards the car, but I could hear her. She was yelling at me. When she got close she says, (yells) “Why did you not send the cop to help me?” What could I say? I just sucked it up and said, “ lets go try to fill up the car.” After several minutes of trying to figure out the gas can I finally got it to work and told Tiffany to get in the car where it is safer. Now remember, I’m blind, standing in total darkness and all I hear the cars whizzing by. Believe me, I’m praying, “Please protect me” and as I finish filling the car I stay as close to the car as possible and I slide into my seat.

A few minutes after filling up the car, we get a call from our credit card company questioning a charge at a random gas station. I guess that tells you something about the area we were in!

Now we’re an hour and half late for our appointment to sign for our house and the moving truck is supposed to be there and the cable/phone company. We track down the appropriate people and apologize for our tardiness trying to explain that we ran out of gas (likely story, huh).

We get to our new home and we find that there are a few safety issues of concern.  The banister was very low and open to the stairs below (built in the 1930’s) and no safety rail on the stairs going to the basement. Our main concern was trying to control two crazy boys.

They allowed us to look at a new house and it fit perfectly. We finally felt a sense of comfort.

But then the chaos ensued. The movers were headed to the wrong address and the cable/phone company too! After redirecting everyone, we started the process of “moving in.” Tiffany and I always say it takes a family for us move!  We are thankful for the network of family and friends that helped us this time around. We could not have done it without you all.

Tiffany and I sat down that night and words did not even need to be spoken. We did it!! It may have been, twisted, unconventional, stressful, unplanned and chaotic but the move finally came to an end.

I came to the conclusion that HOME is who you are with, not necessarily where you live!