Three big boxes were left sitting
in the garage after their daughter
had moved to Phoenix ten years
previously. She only returned once
for a wedding party — hers — but
couldn’t take the boxes back because
the newlyweds were flying home. And
so they sat until her dad emptied the
boxes took photos of the contents and
e-mailed her asking what she wanted
to keep while hoping she didn’t want
to keep everything. She didn’t, but
it was a sentimental journey for
both dad and daughter because of
the items related to her mom, his
late wife. He was glad when the
inventory was done. She wanted
everything concerning her mom and
some other things. Most of the books
went to the library, lightening the
load. He would pack what she wanted,
put it in the trunk of the car and
deliver it when he and his wife travel-
ed to Phoenix for the winter. It will
then be like their forty-three-year-
old daughter has really, actually, de-
finitely moved out. One kid to go.