Ready for a new chapter

I felt an immense amount of sadness after I dropped my sister off at the airport a few hours ago. I turned off the [image error]freeway and instead of going home, went north to unload a car full of donations to the local Animal Humane Thrift Store. It felt strange to leave all the items on the loading dock as I drove away– especially a living room chair that she spent much of the last year sitting in in her bedroom to watch television. 

But I also felt a sense of relief. My sister stayed in what was Mom's room and now will become a second guestroom in my house. And in two weeks my boyfriend and I will will driving a trailer to Illinois to drop off the furniture and belongings that Karen wanted to keep. The north of end of my house will be mostly empty until I get back from that trip.

This morning though, all the boxes were stacked in a second room mom used (my old office when I lived here before my divorce) and Mom's bedroom was fairly empty. I looked around and said to Karen it was like she had cleared out her dorm room.