Moving Day

They sure tried to tell me that the new house and school I was to enter would be much better than the places I was leaving. They didn't think of the friends I would have to leave behind and all the familiar places and hideaways that I could no longer be a part of. After waiting years to be in the 'boys club', my membership would be no more. It seemed like they wanted me to believe that they were doing this for me and my brother. Give me a break! I was sad over the impending loss and they couldn't understand why.

I have moved my living and working quarters many times since then. Every one of those moves was difficult, no matter how positive the reason. Leaving something that has become familiar is not easy. What we know feels safe and what we don't know feels unsafe. Sometimes even scary. I would attempt to anticipate what I needed to do to ease the transition from one place to the other. Get my music connected as soon as possible. Put out the familiar things real fast. Try to make it feel as much like home as possible. Somehow it always felt overwhelming. Every time I finally got that settled feeling I told myself that I would not move again. Somehow 'the best laid plans of mice and men' just don't work out.

The job of going to the Post Office for change of address cards and then proceeding to try to contact everyone who ever did or would send me mail was a major task. Making sure that I informed friends and relatives always left me feeling that I had forgotten somebody who would no doubt feel hurt that they weren't informed of my move. Changing the telephone number was also a major task.

Well, guess what I recently did? I must be a glutton for punishment. This move took me completely by surprise. I wasn't expecting any of the past experiences when I decided to change my Internet Service Provider. I thought all I had to do is install the new software and immediately start enjoying the benefits of why I had made the change. Better service, faster connections and a lower monthly charge would make the change worth my while.

I did it again and I swore I would not go through another moving day hassle. The major change I did not count on in this seemingly simple move was my e-mail address. I have been giving out my e-mail address as if I was running for office. Just about everybody I have had contact with since I received the coveted 'edr@panix.com' was told about how they could very easily reach me on the Internet. Now I have to make sure that I contact each and every one and not forget anybody. How can I possible do that? I also will lose that feeling of familiarity I had at some of the home pages and chat areas the old provider maintained. Sure there will be new places to explore and people to meet but I miss the old 'neighborhood, already. Nobody ever told me that moving from one ISP to another would be like moving from one hoem to another. How Come?