The Merge is complete.
The Organizing is not.
But all the little butterflies are finally gone. I was so nervous last week, bombarding myself with Deep questions: Are Luke and I dooming our relationship? Are we really ready for this? Hell, am I ready for this? But when I woke up on Saturday morning, that cold feeling in my stomach had disappeared, and all I could feel was excitement that we would finally be together again.
As we begin compressing our lives into this one-bedroom apartment, there have been no major problems, only interesting issues that I'm sure every Merging couple faces. Like, we now possess a gazillion dishes, but I can't get myself to throw away the bowl and cup sets I bought from the dollar store my freshman year in college. That was EIGHT YEARS AGO, PEOPLE. The dollar-store dining ware and I, we have a history.
And OK, I know we have more coffee cups than all the Starbucks in Indianapolis, and yes, I am aware I don't even drink coffee, but don't ask me to get rid of the English cup I received from SJC's president's wife for driving her to the bus stop in Merrillville three years ago. And it still hurts that I will most likely have to give up the ugly-ass teacups taking up all the space in one of the top-shelf cabinets. The ugly-ass teacups I have used maybe one time but match the ugly-ass plates my mother gave to me when I moved out of the dorm and into my first (rented) house.
And then there are the questions. Why are you putting your measuring cups in the drawer when I have a perfectly wonderful set that's not missing any of the measuring increments? What will we do with nine pillows and three laundry baskets? If I "let you" display your electric razor, will it be OK if I leave my make-up bag on the ledge of the medicine cabinet? Will you ever remember to dry the bathroom countertop after you wash your face?
Many of these debates have taken place in my head as I put dishes away, shred Luke's old credit-card statements, and watch him assemble yet another Target bookshelf. But there is one thought I cannot keep to myself:
"I'm so glad you're here."
You can never have too many pillows! Just wait till you get married and have a shower. You will not know what to do with all the old and new things.
Posted by: Anonymous | September 19, 2005 at 03:26 PM
Wasn't it great waking up seeing his face and knowing that he will be there every morning for the rest of you life?
Posted by: hopeless romantic | September 19, 2005 at 03:29 PM
Ahem, my razor is not "on display." The stand is there to automatically clean and recharge it when I put the razor away.
And, "Me, too."
Posted by: Luke | September 19, 2005 at 03:52 PM
banana banana banana!!!
Posted by: Becky | September 19, 2005 at 06:11 PM
Frema remember extra clutter can be stored at Miles and Molly's house; they have lived with clutter for many years. Other stuff, that you do not need or want, can be sold or given away. For your convenience, the Methodists in M-ville give away rummage once a year.
Molly
PS I hope that banana, banana, banana is good.
Posted by: Anonymous | September 19, 2005 at 06:34 PM
I didn't know Luke wore makeup!
Posted by: bemused and bewildered | September 19, 2005 at 06:45 PM
Oh just wait to see how much fun it is cleaning the urine from underneath the toliet seat and have him say, "It must have been you!" ;) It's the little things about moving in together that are fun, exciting and unseemingly dirty Nootch! :)
Posted by: Newly Wed | September 19, 2005 at 08:33 PM
Frema is clearly asking the question from her own point of view that if she let's me leave my razor and stand on the bathroom counter, she can leave her makeup bag on the ledge of the medicine cabinet.
I, myself, do not and never will wear makeup.
Posted by: Luke | September 19, 2005 at 11:26 PM
Hey, don't knock wearing makeup until you've tried it. And congratulations you two!
Posted by: Mark | September 20, 2005 at 01:08 AM
Congrats! If there is too much cash cluttering the apartment, please send to me. Thanks.
Posted by: Liz | September 20, 2005 at 10:10 AM
Congratulations!!! I'm so happy for you both!
Posted by: PaintingChef | September 20, 2005 at 11:09 AM
Hooray for love, Luke, Frema and dollar store purchases. - Di
Posted by: Anonymous | September 20, 2005 at 12:28 PM
First, I second the 'you can never have too many pillows.' Second, 3 laundry baskets is NOT too many...unless you have a washer/dryer in-unit, and if you do, make room for another couple of roomates. For example, we are going to do laundry today, and we will have nearly 5 baskets worth...from the course of 1.5 to 2 weeks.
Maybe we just need fewer clothes you say? But then we'd have to goto the laundra-bar even more often!
-David M
Posted by: Anonymous | September 20, 2005 at 04:58 PM
Tell Luke he needs a new blog entry!
Posted by: Missing the Clutter | September 21, 2005 at 02:20 PM
Breain, I swear I was runnning with you in North Carolina to your friend's house!! It's not fake. Do you remember when I fell off the horse because I was sleeping...yet another N.C. memory!! :)
Posted by: N.C. Native | September 23, 2005 at 01:10 AM
Lovely sister, you commented on the wrong entry!
Posted by: Frema | September 23, 2005 at 01:25 AM
Don't let cups and laundry baskets get in the way of making a life-long commitment. There are no dress rehearsals in life. Go for it in full throttle. Best of luck.
MAM in CA
Posted by: Anonymous | September 27, 2005 at 02:21 AM