Shifting Gears
August 1, 2026 – The metaphor is ironic and iconic
I can write about this now because the eggs have hatched and the three baby birds and their momma have left the nest. Soon after, I went to the car dealership and asked the service department to remove the nest. It was situated between the front grate and radiator. Once removed, I am now hiding my car in my garage. My kid has moved out of my townhouse and bought her own town house one building away from mine. So, we are still living in the same strata, but she has her own place. I am so proud of her. She made executive decisions to get her to this point in her life. It’s not to say that she had this exact plan, but she has always been independent and she knows what she wants.
Anyway, as for the momma bird and her babies, I pretty much spent the last four weeks NOT driving my car, thus bumming rides from my kid, borrowing her car, or just staying home. I had mixed feelings about the momma bird. On the one hand, I wanted to “punch her in the face” for disabling my use of my car. On the other hand, I wanted her and her babies to thrive. She choose an excellent location to make her next and have her babies. It’s covered, it’s temperature regulated, and it’s safe from any predators (like myself). She was a smart momma bird and worked very hard to create a comfy place for her babies to rest and grow before leaving the nest. Much like my kid, they have left the nest.
Of course, I had to get the nest removed and find ways for the momma bird (or her babies) to return to my car as a familiar place to build a nest. The kid had to move from my place, so I was 10% anticipating to clean up the garage on moving day so that I could park my car in there. The timing was perfect. My car appointment was on the same day as moving day. I was so grateful for the service department for removing the nest, but also to my kid’s friends who helped move her stuff from my place to her place. They were the “Triple A’s” on the first day, and “Triple A and J” on the second day. The A’s and J were the first initial of their names. They were so efficient and they had fun moving too.
Back and forth they went with their SUV’s. Some items, like the dresser and dining room table, they just carried it to her place. That’s how close she is. LOL. As they moved her stuff out, I took the time to clean up what was left in my place, and my kid was unpacking her stuff at her place. It was a crazy 24-hours, but much like the baby birds, all of sudden, all of her stuff (well, most) was gone and out of my house. OMG. It was my time to move into my house. So weird. The cleaning was horrendous, and then building a few shelves were enduring. I am so physically tired, but I love how now all of MY stuff is spread throughout my place… like it fits. Her bedroom became my office, and I love it.
Writing this blog post is the first “real work” that I have done in my office. Now, I don’t have to go downstairs to take a Zoom call, or work in my bedroom (and sometimes on my bed). I have clear boundaries now in my place for sleep, work, and rest/eating. I love that. I made the move into my house a “spring cleaning” opportunity. My placed needed it. My cat was somewhat bewildered by all of the mess and changes within the home, but I think she has adapted. I love that I have my own place, and I am happy that my kid has her own place too. She is truly out of the nest… with graduation, a new job, and now her own place. Much like the momma bird, I prepped my kid to leave the nest. Woohoo!!
My kid loves her place and I am loving my place too. She did mention that this is the FIRST time that I have lived alone. I had to really think about that. There was one year when I lived in a studio apartment at UBC on campus… but in hindsight, that was a mess. I will make no comment about the details of it except to say that I am going to enjoy living alone and having my independence. I love the silence. I love the view outside my office window. I love sleeping in the middle of my bed wrapped around my cat (who is lying dead-centre of the bed). And, I love my work, my kid, and my friends. This place has served me well in many ways. I cannot complain. I have a lot to be grateful for.