by Eliza Freiday

Last week, I moved a customer who was going to be 80 yrs old. His birthday was actaully on his move day. As I was gathering his information, going over details of his move with him and trying to give him good advice, he said that he had some advice to give me to pass on to other seniors moving – I’m glad he shared! He told me that he wanted to plan something special for his family as he got ready to leave, so he took his daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren on a visit to some special places in the city, where they had shared special memories. They took “farewell” pictures in the park and made a photo album for him, since he will be over 800 miles away. What a great idea, and the best part, he said he feels “at home” every time he looks at the album! What a great way to make a big transition a celebration!

by Erica Beiser

Even though I work at Barrett Moving & Storage, handle local, cross country and international moves daily, this does not make me immune to the normal responses of children, including my own!! My fiance and I are in the process of buying and moving to our second home. We have spent countless hours going over details and plans of what we would like to do and where we will put things in our new home.

In the midst all of this, all we are told by our three-year-old daughter “But I like my house, I don’t want to move.” That is when the mother part of me kicks in and I tell her it will be fine and to go play and not worry about it. But, after giving it more constructive though, I decided to go at it from another angle. Mind you she is three, and the only home she knows is the one we currently live in, so to her, “Why move??” is a logical question.

What we have taken to doing is when we are discussing the possible new house, I go and get her, and include her in the conversation. She has seen the home in question, so when speaking about it she knows what we are talking about. I bring up things like, “Think about the super big yard your swing set can go in.” and “Maybe when you get a little bigger we could get a dog because the yard is fenced.” Things that she can relate to and understand.

We have tried to make this a huge adventure for her. She would live closer to her grandma, and that has been a big plus in our favor, because what child doesn’t like to go to grandma’s house? And, thankfully she is starting to understand why we might be moving: so we have more room for all HER stuff!!! Happy moving to me!!!

by Laura Langer

It’s Van Operator Appreciation Week at Barrett and we’re celebrating the hard work our van operators put in all year round. We do this every May, and each of our locations comes up with a lot of fun, games, and recognition – everything from Van Operator Bingo to doughnuts in the drivers’ room to a gift for each van operator.

Two things strike me. It’s a great way to remind our van operators how much we appreciate them. But, it’s also a perfect time for the “rest of us” to reflect on that contribution. Without our van operators, obviously, we couldn’t load or deliver anything. They move people’s memories – pictures, antiques, wedding gowns, and maybe even some of those bronze baby shoes that were so popular when I was growing up — as well as the more mundane necessities of life like pots and pans, linens, beds, and the television. They make sure that everything gets to the right spot, and they do it in every kind of weather and geography.

They also move people’s inventions, and what they’ve manufactured, and the trade show displays that bring those manufactured items and inventions to the attention of buyers. They transport medical equipment to hospitals and clinics, and move offices from one building to another. They transport our national heritage – our nation’s artwork collections, and cultural icons like original the original copy of the Declaration of Independence that is traveling the country right now.

Sometimes the life of a van operator might seem mundane – but what they mean to the people they serve is far from it. Arriving on time, keeping everything safe, and maintaining high professional standards is more than a full-time job – it’s a career.

My hat’s off to all of them.