My husband and the remainder of my household furnishings are somewhere near the southern border of Pennsylvania about now. Another four hours and I may well be meeting them at the cottage.
It took a herculean effort by amazing friends to get things loaded at that end. At this end tomorrow it will be family.
And then...
Same stuff. New life.
The dots aren't connected clearly enough yet to get a real picture of what it's going to look like, but the colors are rosier than they have been in a long time.
With the high ceilings, high shine wood floor and wide open spaces, it could be a dance hall in this apartment tonight... by tomorrow at this time it's likely there won't be any floor exposed.
The cats have settled in well and I doubt they will be too disconcerted by the return en masse of familiar items. Everytime I come home they emerge from a new hiding place or sleeping perch. No question in their minda. This is going to be home.
I picked up a catnip toy and some fabric softener at Target tonight to celebrate. Catnip is a rare indulgence for them and fabric softener... in my months of laundromatting... became increasingly elusive.
More coordinated folk than I handle it with aplomb... but the challenge of hauling so many things in and out in the snow, coupled with watching timers on several scattered machines as well as my purse and completed laundry, was more than I could handle. The day the fabric softener froze solid in my car in February was my last attempt in recent history.
I can't say I missed it. Or even much thought about it. But when I passed it in the store today I instantly knew I could have it and use it in my own laundry room.
If there is such thing as a moment of domestic exhilaration, I experienced it right there in the Delaware Avenue Target store.
The felnes can have their herby buzz, I'm on a Downy high. Every load smells so artificially naturally fresh.
And thus begins the next chapter.

Copyright 2005 Judi Griggs