7 days and 13 boxes til we get to China

So here goes:
First, the shippers came and handily packed up 13 boxes of "essential items'. I challenge anyone to try to put 15 years of a family into 13 banana boxes. It is interesting what we selected. Luca really wanted the Switzerland poster and the fishing ornament for Christmas. Renata wanted to recreate her room in Shenzhen exactly, so she took photos, carefully removed posters and memorabilia and packed those. For me, even though the weather is HOT, really hot, I wanted my cozy turtlenecks (I am a Mainer, and this is essential wear for Mainers) and my beloved high heeled leather boots. I know, I know I probably won't be able to wear them, but I wanted to them. And the tree skirt that Julie gave us on our first Christmas. Vic wasn't sure if he should take all of his microbial and disease books to teach BIO; he definitely took the Darwin textbooks and novels. Photos of the kids and both of our families made the cut, for sure. So together with R's flute and hockey stick, Luca's hockey stick and kickball, we waved good bye to our 13 boxes of life. See you in September on the other side, boxes....