The truck shook as the engine clattered and roared to life.
Alex and I waved to my sister, brother-in-law and niece who stood in the driveway. Then, I shifted the gear into drive and the truck lurched forward.
We pulled onto the interstate a few minutes later. Soon, Kansas was in the rearview mirror.
Arriving at our new home!
It was August 16, and my 35 1/3 years of Kansas residency were over.
Two days earlier, I completed my final day of work at an engineering firm in Kansas City, wrapping up a whirlwind two weeks of long days and late nights to get a major proposal out the door. Now, behind the wheel of a 15-foot U-Haul box truck with my Honda Civic in tow on a trailer, a 3 1/2-day, 1,451-mile journey to Boston was under way.
Alex and I rolled into town on a Wednesday, Aug. 19. During the next few days we set up our home, visited Fenway Park to watch the Kansas City Royals play the Boston Red Sox, and explored the new neighborhood trails at the Middlesex Fells Reservation.
On Monday, Aug. 24 – just nine days after wrapping up work in Kansas City and packing up to move – the new daily grind commenced. I rolled out of bed and started my new routine with a one-mile walk to the Davis Square T Station, a 20-minute ride on the Red Line train, and then a short walk to my new job at my new office near Boston Harbor.
Life was crazy while packing up in Kansas City, and it hasn’t slowed down since arriving in Massachusetts. Each weekend has been packed with pre-scheduled activities, keeping us constantly on the run – both literally and figuratively.
Royals vs. Red Sox at Fenway Park!
We spent the final weekend of August in Vermont running on the Appalachian Trail for a friend’s bachelor party.
Labor Day weekend included doing mountain repeats on Mt. Watatic, celebrating two years together with dinner at Monotomy in Arlington, and then I took a trip to Lowell to visit old friends.
On Sept. 12, we supported our friend Dan at his first 50-mile trail race, and then drove to Rhode Island the following day for a baptism.
Finally, last weekend allowed us to have a bit of calm and quiet. We did a short trail run at the Blue Hills Reservation and met friends for dinner, but otherwise the weekend was spent resting and relaxing.
The Royals followed us from Kansas City to Boston for the weekend.
As Month #2 in town kicks off, the whirlwind begins anew. We are headed back to Vermont on Saturday morning to prepare for Sunday’s running of the Vermont 50. Then, we’ll roll into October with back-to-back wedding weekends, one in Medford and the other in Miami.
After that … a calm and quiet schedule, at least for a short while.
My new neighborhood trails at the Middlesex Fells Reservation.
Exploring the Appalachian Trail near Jamaica, Vermont.
Alex and I on the Appalachian Trail in Vermont!
