We met Isabel many months before she sold the house that she and her husband had bought sixty years before. Alone now, she had made the decision to move close to her sister and her husband, Ann and Bud. But first the accumulation of possessions in Isabel’s house would have to be dealt with.

It was a lot. Isabel knew this – and yet, she didn’t. Her main worry at the start was what to do with the contents of her husband’s several workshops. Neatly organized but extensive, tools and machinery, hoists and saws, an old treadle sewing machine and much, much more filled the large basement, garage and shed.

We looked at it and said, "Wow," and we were only looking at the first layer. So many more things were stowed in cupboards and drawers and under workbenches.

Isabel and friends contacted people who buy tools. Family members selected items they wanted. Finally a sale was organized and, over a weekend, a lot of things were purchased and removed.

But much remained. For many days, Isabel and Ann and Bud sorted through and boxed what would be given to charity. They hired a hauler to take more away.

It was about this time that Isabel’s niece, Nina, came from her home in Oregon to help. Thank goodness for Nina who threw her able self into assisting her aunt in every way she could. For six weeks, Nina directed the action. Closets were gone through, things tossed and recycled. China was packed, antiques were set aside for family. Together, Nina and Isabel looked at all of the Christmas decorations, sheets and towels, pots and baking pans. Bud and Ann, as always, helped too.

When we put the house on the market, it looked tidy and relatively spare. There was a lot of interest in the house and it was sold to a young couple who would allow Isabel some time after the sale closed to finish packing and moving.

As Ann and Bud live in a trailer park in Union City, Isabel had arranged for a space there and had made a deposit on a new manufactured home (which, we learned, is what "trailers" are called these days). Isabel showed us the floor plan; this "trailer" was large: two bedrooms and a plus room, large kitchen, two baths. She got to choose the paint and counter colors and carpets. If only it was ready when the salesman promised, everything would go smoothly.

It wasn’t ready. "It will be soon," Isabel was told a number of times, but it took so long that in the end, Isabel was going to have her belongings moved into storage. She’d keep some of her clothes and other things with her and stay with Ann and Bud until she could take possession of her new home.

The movers came and took all of the furniture, lamps, bedding, boxes of belongings to storage. That afternoon we went by Isabel’s to see how she was doing. The plan was to clear out the house completely the next day.

Ann and Bud were there and we asked who was going to box up and move the rest of the stuff. "We are," they chimed, smiling.

Many things remained in the kitchen. Just in case they wanted to prepare a meal there, they’d kept out a few dishes, some pots and pans, knives and the like. There was still quite an assortment of packaged foods in the cupboards, the refrigerator was fairly full, the freezer jammed.

In her sewing room, Isabel’s sewing patterns, threads and scissors, some old magazines she was saving, and the entire contents of her desk remained. In every closet there were still a few things: extension cords, throw rugs, hats and clothes, laundry basket.

The living and dining room drapes still hung at the windows. They were to be taken down and put somewhere until Isabel could use them again. The basement too still held brooms and rags, rakes – miscellaneous items.

We offered, while we were there, to take down the drapes. Isabel went off to find some strips of cloth to tie the pleats together. Bud was busy rehanging a gate that the movers had removed. Ann packed sewing supplies. Between us, we got the drapes tied neatly and hung over hangers. They were bulky and would take up a lot of space in Bud’s car.

These dear people are all three in their seventies and eighties. Cheery and willing though they are, we were becoming alarmed that they were not up to their task. We asked how were they planning to transport themselves and everything else to Union City? They said they’d have to make a couple of trips.

"We think you should consider renting a truck," we said. And, we added that it would be a good idea to call another of Isabel’s nieces who had kindly offered her time.

Moving is just so big. Everyone, regardless of age or how many times they’ve moved, seems to underestimate what is involved. There was still so much to deal with in Isabel’s house. We could see that it was going to take a lot of time, a lot of carrying, a lot of space to get all that remained out of the house.

To their great credit, all three of these sweet people were still perky and smiling. They were sure everything would be fine. But Bud did rent a truck the next day and the niece came with her van. Still, by the time they got to the foil-wrapped packages in the freezer, three vehicles were filled to capacity.

They had made their deadline! They were very tired indeed and, I suppose, they still needed to stash the frozen food before crawling into bed. Unloading the truck could wait.