Ordinarily a move is a one-way transaction: A to B. Because we will be returning, we tried to take as little as possible. I noticed the movers sharing a few odd looks among themselves. “Something doesn’t add up,” I heard one of them say.

While giving the movers instructions my builder showed up and then the plumber, both with details that had to be dealt with immediately.  While discussing the situation with them my neighbor drove up asking if Luke, who I had just sent down the street to meet her, still needed a ride to school.

Then the building inspector showed up …

Have you ever seen the Tom Hanks movie, “Charlie Wilson’s War” where he’s sitting in his Washington D.C. office calmly solving several major issues simultaneously? I conjured up his persona, rolled my shoulders back and took a deep breath:

To the neighbor: please find Luke

To the builder: I’ll hang the building permit

To the plumber: I’ll stop using the water, sewer lines and gas right away and get you a notarized letter for the utility company a.s.a.p. As the moving company is here right now, I don’t happen to have a computer and printer connected at the moment.

To the movers: wrap this, leave that

To the building inspector: nice to meet you, let me know what you need

Not exactly the war and peace making decisions of Charlie Wilson, but a private war  – against flooding.