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by M Richardson

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Moving horror stories...I've heard a few, had a few, but there is one that happened to a friend of mine which sticks out in my mind like a pounding sore thumb!

My friend was moving from North Carolina to San Diego, California. He decided, against both of our better judgments, to hire a moving company that had been recommended to him by another friend; as a matter of fact, it was a company owned by this "friend's" cousin. I flew over to help him with some last minute packing and to help him oversee the movers loading his things into the van, and the plan was for him and I to have a grand road trip in his vehicle back to San Diego. We would be spending several days in several different areas, so the moving van was going to beat us to the destination.

Because this was a "friend" of a "friend", the moving company was going to do something a little special for him, they were going to unload and unpack the majority of his things, set up his bedroom sets, television cabinet, hook-up his TV, etc., for no extra charge. Sounded like a good deal, and even when we say the movers, who looked like middle aged, beer drinking, "good old boys", we decided to turn the other cheek and allow the move to happen. Things were loaded and the van pulled away, and soon after we were on the road as well.

We didn't get five miles down the road and got a flat tire...great start to a road trip, right? Still, it was quickly fixed and we spent the next two weeks crossing the country, taking photos, visiting a couple of friends, and basically having a great time. By the time we got to Dallas, Texas, we were in need of a "night out" and decided that we'd hit a couple of bars. The next morning my wallet was gone and my friend has lost his jacket...another omen? After arguing with my credit card companies on a cell phone on the last leg of the trip, we were so very happy to see the "California State Line".

We pulled up to the house, a nice little white house in a nice little manicured neighborhood. We walked up to the door and the key fit perfectly, but when we opened the door we found one of the movers passed out on the couch in front of the TV with a about ten beer cans strewn across the coffee table, a second mover was in the kitchen, passed, face down on the table and we could hear the shower running, which would have undoubtedly been the third mover. Pizza boxes were on the counter and more open beer cans where on the table...sigh...they had a party the night before and basically trashed the joint.

Still, the story goes on...after getting over the initial shock of the men in the house, we got to looking around the house and realized that the house was filled with the WRONG furniture! We could hardly believe it, we even went outside and checked the address, but knew that it was right because the moving van as parked across the street. When we finally roused the passed out mover on the couch, he explained that they had made a switch with the original drivers somewhere in the mid-west...so my friend's furniture was probably currently being unloaded into someone else's house!

It was the mess of all messes, and wasn't "fixed" for at least three weeks. At least my friend got his money back for the move and a huge apology...still, I think those movers had a better party than we had in Dallas!

Learn more about this author, M Richardson.

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