A B.I.G. Step

It's no secret the last couple years in Pinedale were rough on me/us.  It's no secret I wanted out of Pinedale.  It's no secret an asshole contractor stole our life savings.  It's no secret I feel horribly unwelcome in the neighborhood we still own property in.  It's no secret I couldn't be at that property without being physically ill.  It's a pretty crappy feeling that someone you trusted can betray you that much - put a tarnish on our good name and reputation as people, effect our health and well-being, impact our financial stability and yet that person still sleeps at night believing he is an up-standing member of every community he has ever lived in.....and been sued in.  Yes, according to our court deposition, there has been more than one law-suit he has needed to defend himself from.  Then to add insult to injury, the scum-sucking attorney gets the case dismissed.....and doesn't bother to tell us.  Now that was a great way to throw good money after bad.

This past weekend in Pinedale was different.  We went back to deliver a grill to our wonderful friends, Curt and Renan, that Bill built for them.  While we were there it was an absolute for us that we were going to finish cleaning out the barn and close bank accounts.  We've had a couple offers on the place that we haven't been able to get closed.  The good news...we've had offers and the place is still showing.  Showing the day we were there.  One doesn't get an offer without showings.  This is positive.

Saturday started like every other time I've been to the barn in the past, oh, you know, 8+ years....I pull into the subdivision and my stomach started to tighten.  By the time I was on the property, my stomach was in knots and I was looking for a spot to puke that the dogs wouldn't then find appealing.  It changed though.

My physical feeling changed the longer we were there.  The more we got done, the more that was out of the place and ready to haul to the dump, the better my stomach felt.  As more stuff was loaded to come home, the more relaxed my stomach got.  By the time we were down to the last of the last, my stomach was fine.  I was even OK, sitting down to take a break and rest my back.....INSIDE the barn.  It has been years since I have been able to do that.  Loading the very last of the last was almost a calming sensation.  Now, we have no reason to ever "have" to go back.  I feel like a huge weight has been lifted now that we have made A B.I.G. Step in rounding the corner to close the Pinedale chapter of life.  Before leaving town, we even took the time to close ALL of our bank accounts left over there. Yes, there has still been bank accounts as that takes time to take care of.  Time we simply did not want to take or spend.

It was a good weekend.  A weekend I will always remember as a turning point for me.  I can be at the barn and not be physically ill.  That does not mean I don't want to sell.....Get it off the balance sheet!  Having that weight removed from my psyche is exactly what I needed.

Finishing the weekend off......Easter Sunday was spent at Curt and Renan's with them hosting an asado party around the grill Bill built for them with some of our life long Pinedale friends....and a few new ones we met that day.  Then...on the way out of town....we sold the wood stove for the house part of the barn project.  A-L-W-A-Y-S a great feeling to leave town with a little more cash than you arrive with.  

Curt and Bill tending to the fire to make lots and lots of coals.  It was a busy trial run for that grill......leg of lamb, beef tri-tip roast, chicken and a whole bunch of sausage.  (Notice the wheel barrows behind Curt...they held coals to cook all the veggies for dinner!)  And a pretty awesome view to enjoy.