HMS Providence − 23 June, 2008

We picked up the moving van on Monday, June 23.

Now, if you've read other parts of this biography, you know I'm a fan of the Age of Sail -- I've read all of Patrick O'Brian's Captain Aubrey novels (Master and Commander, Post Captain, HMS Surprise . . . .) as well as the Horatio Hornblower series. I also enjoy finding out about the history and people of that time, so have read the biographies of Captain Cook, Lord Cochrane, and Admiral FitzRoy (of the Beagle). Every now and then, I'll read a pirate book on the side ;-)

So I named the moving van "HMS Providence." HMS, because it was Hauling My Stuff. Providence, because of the logo on the side of the U-haul (see below) -- Providence Canyons, in Georgia.

This was quite a coincidence.

From 1973 to 1976, my father was stationed at the Marine Corps base in Albany, GA. When time permitted, we took a lot of family vacations, even if it were only a trip on the weekend. One of the places we went all the time was called. at the time, "The Little Grand Canyon." Years later, they changed the name to Providence Canyons.

I was driving a van with a logo of a place from my childhood on the side.

We hired movers to load the heavy furniture into our truck. We'd already packaged everything, and so, mid day, found ourselves sitting in a house that was about 60% empty.

Not exactly home.

But then, a friend of the family named Colette came over and did something wonderful: she brought us lunch. She knew we'd have packed everything up already, so she brought everything we'd need -- plates, silverware, drinks.

So we sat on the floor in one of the empty rooms (out of the way of the movers) and had a nice lunch on our last day in Gainesville. And knowing me, she'd even made sure the entire meal was vegetarian.

It was one of the nicest things, I think, that anyone's ever done for us.

Quite a send off for the HMS Providence.

providence

Posted on July 11, 2008. and has been viewed 168 times.

Comments:

edunn (July 11, 2008. 05:20pm)

What a nice thing to do! Very thoughtful. Would you be impressed if I told you I was a decendant of Horatio Lord Nelson? Are you into British navy history?

bmccosar (July 11, 2008. 05:43pm)

I would be very impressed! I've also read a few bios of Nelson and his major fleet actions. Yes, I'm into British history from that era, and also the American Revolution. In England, I understand the bookstores have a section called "naval fiction" the same way the US has "westerns." Each is very characteristic of the country of origin.

edunn (July 11, 2008. 05:48pm)

Very cool! I learn something new about you all the time!