1988

Leaving On a Jet Plane

Julie and I had discussed in the previous weeks what we would do if I got a job in the DC area.  The problem was Julie had a couple more semesters at UCF to finish her bachelor’s degree and Anne was about to start her senior year of high school, and, we all agreed, it would not be fair to Anne to have her start at a new school for her senior year.  So, it was decided, I would move to Virginia by myself while Julie and Anne would stay in Melbourne until the following June when Anne would and Julie both would graduate. 

I told CCI I could start in two weeks, and I had a lot to do to be ready starting with finding a place to live so I again turned to the Washington Post classified ads and found a room to rent in Reston. I called the number and the man explained that he was single and owned a two bedroom town house in Reston and was looking for someone to rent the second bedroom. I told him about myself and where I would be working and he said it was less than two miles from his place so I told him I would take the room and would send him a deposit check. 

At first I thought I would drive my ’76 Chevy van up which would allow me to take all sorts of things but the van was twelve years old and was starting to have problems, it needed a new clutch, the alternator was acting up and didn’t always charge the battery, the front suspension was feeling loose like it needed new ball joints or tie rod ends, I wasn’t sure it would make it to Virginia so I decided to sell it. I put and ad in the paper listing it for $500. The next day a couple of Mexican’s came by and bought it, they were quite excited about it.   After not working for three months my checking account was getting low so the $500 really helped.  I would miss the old van, it contained a lot of memories.

I also put an ad in the paper for a garage sale to sell a bunch of the computer stuff I had accumulated including my IMSAI 8080 computer, a PDP-11 computer, my ADM-3 terminal, and other miscellaneous computer stuff.  Later I regretted selling my IMSAI computer as it became a classic early computer. I didn’t figure I would be fishing or scuba diving much in Virginia, so I sold my fishing reels, tackle box and scuba gear.   I got about another $500, enough to pay for my flight up to Virginia.

About the only thing I took with me were two suitcases of clothes.  I flew into Washington Dulles Airport a week before I was to start work so I could get settled in.  I rented a car for two weeks knowing that I would need run around and buy a few things including a bed as the room I was renting was unfurnished.  From the airport I drove first to the townhouse I had not even seen yet to find it was just a couple years old and quite nice.  I met the owner, Willy, who was a few years younger than me, and he seemed to be a likable guy and I thought we would get along. Being new to the area, Willy gave me directions to several stores, including the closest Sears where I bought a single bed which they would deliver the next day, I had to spend the first night sleeping on the floor.   There was a department store a couple of blocks from Willy’s place and I bought a pillow, sheets and towels and a few other household things and I was ready to start work the following Monday. 

CCI