
We woke early on our move-in day, deflated the inflatable mattress we’d been sleeping on, and waited inside the empty house. The big orange moving van rumbled up the street a little after 8:00. Happy to see it, we also felt nervous about whether all of our furniture and boxes would fit into this house. And the garage. And the basement. And the yard, if necessary.
The guys came up the walk after parking the van, with large bearded Wayne in the lead, followed by the even larger Joe and the short, stocky impassive Murphy. They tramped around the house for a few minutes, noting all the rooms, stairs, passageways, and odd twists and turns. Then Wayne asked me to call the police. “The police!”, I thought, wondering if it is a crime to have a doorway that is only six feet high, as is the one at the outer entrance to our kitchen. “The police?” I said. Wayne told us that his van had knocked down a low-hanging tree branch a few blocks up our street, and he would rather we report the incident than have the police arrive and arrest him for leaving the scene of a broken branch.
I found the non-emergency police number and called. A man answered, “Providence Police,” gave his operator number and said “What’s the problem?” After I explained, he said “You on Everett?” I said yes, and he said, “Yeah, that was reported at 8:20, and a cable was knocked down too. National Grid is already out there working on it.”
“Oh no,” I said timidly. “Is there anything we should do?” To which he replied, “Nah, stuff happens!” And then, “Hey, where are you moving from?”
Stuff happens? Where are you moving from?? Not the response I expected, but a very welcome one. “Bethlehem PA,” I said. “Bethlehem,” he replied. “I was there once, years ago. What brings you to Rhode Island?”
We chatted a bit, with him filling me in on various Providence and Rhode Island events, including Waterfire, the Seafood Festival, the Kite Festival, the Hot Air Balloon Festival. “There is so much to do here in the summer,” he said. “I hope the rest of your move goes well. Welcome to Providence!”
After I hung up, we all breathed a sigh of relief that there would be no repercussions for the damage sustained to limb. The rest of the move-in went well. Murphy even made a joke toward the end, something about a second truck on the way bringing the rest of our things.
Stuff happens, indeed. It’s good to know that kindness and reasonableness also happen. By the way, all of our furniture and boxes did fit into the house, garage and basement. Just barely.


Hi Sheila! so happy to hear all is well and I can’t wait to see those beautiful rooms all decorated in your art work and furniture!!
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Sandy, Thanks for the vote of confidence! We have been carrying artwork around for a few days holding things up in various rooms to see where they might go. And having some arguments about it, haha. But mostly agreeing.
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What a weird, yet wonderful response from the police… Glad everything fit & that you are settling in! We missed you at the Iron Pigs game.
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Teri, we miss you all too. Hope you had a nice time at the Iron Pigs! Slowly but surely we are getting organized here. And I do mean slowly.
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Nice Sheila!! Enjoy your new home! Crazy about the branch. Very conscientious people.
Looking forward to hearing more about your new adventures.
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Thank you, Jess! I miss you and everyone in Bethlehem.
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What a wonderful way to start in a new town. Are you sure you’re not living in the midwest? 😉
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Silagh you are right, it does have sort a midwestern feel! Which is very nice.
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Nice chat with the police!
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I love the chat with the police. I don’t think that would be the norm here. You’re off to a great start. The house looks very pretty.
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Thanks Barbara! The house is colorful. Some of the colors we like, some we will change. Haven’t seen any police on horseback yet, but I believe we have a few here.
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I can tell this is going to be a very interesting “Year in Providence”. Already you have a great story just by moving into your new home. Great photos too.
Keep the stories coming, Sheila.
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Thank you, Janet! Moving is quite an adventure, but so far, so good.
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