Well, it looks pretty official. Except for one set of initials, all the i's are dotted and the t's are crossed. Barring any kind of weird, unforeseen events, we'll go to settlement on May 31. The "real" selling price of the house was $210K.

As you know, my whole life IS a series of weird, unforeseen events. But that's okay. I'm used to it. I thought we were going to go into another whirlwind of worry this morning when we went to sign papers this morning. Some guy, I'll call him Mr. Red, showed up with his family yesterday while The Hub was at the old house, and asked to see it. So, naturally, The Hub showed him around and made it very clear that we had an offer and meant to take it.

"Oh, I'm pre-approved! Call this number, this is my lender, I'll call your realtors right away. I have a contract on a house but the people don't want to settle for six months! I want to settle right away."

And he DID call our realtors. So this morning they called the lender. Of course, the guy was not approved for the amount he had mentioned....and the contract he has is with his brother!

"Oh, for goodness sake! This guy isn't going to throw his brother over for us -he's just trying to light a fire under him so he'll get a move on." I said when I heard all of that.

The Hub, whose personality type is one that always wants more information, asked a lot of questions, which is good, really. There was some thought that we might try to wait to sign papers for another 24 hours, but both of us just felt like Mr. Red didn't seem to do business in a straight forward kind of way - whereas the buyer with whom we did sign papers has agreed to every concession my realtors pushed (i.e. waiving any repairs found in the home inspection, a quick settlement, etc.)

"Besides, I'm not sure my nerves could stand up to all this for 24 more hours." The Hub said.

"I feel the same way. I just wasn't going to admit it." I confessed.

I really wanted to put in a clause that they had to promise not to kick Birda and Cyrano out of the car port. But, I met the people, and I showed the lady around and she was absolutely thrilled by the pond, and charmed by the birds nest. I'll just ask them about it, from across the table at settlement, just out of common decency. They won't even poop on the car where they're nesting this year. But I didn't want to put anything wacky in writing. Maybe I should have.

I feel both sad and relieved. I think, on some level, I was hoping something would come up ( magic? lottery winnings?) that would allow us to pay our bills and keep the home. But this is the real world, not a Disney movie, no matter how much I like to imagine talking animals and blue skies. This is a much better solution than struggling along in debt, or the dishonor of bankruptcy. From here, thanks to the generosity of my parents, who are renting their old home to us, we'll be able to re-establish our credit and get on our feet again with our honor and dignity in tact. We'll be in a safe neighborhood, and able to have the dog and the pair-a-tweeters with us. I'll be able to have a garden ( which, in fact, I'd better begin to dig in earnest!)

Besides, there's such a thing as birds on M*** Dr. Maybe the best is yet to come.