Winter's End
Richard and I have decided to renew our lease, which means that we'll be staying at this apartment for another year. Now that I know that Loud Neighbor is going to be gone soon, my whole attitude towards the place has mellowed and become more accepting and appreciative. It's almost like putting up with him for so long was coloring my opinion of living here. This sounds a little strange even to me, but it's the only explanation I can come up with. As Richard put it: "he just ruins everything, doesn't he?" Yes. Yes he does.
I had a lot of plans for this dinky little place, and I was a bit saddened by the idea of moving away. The experience of having Loud Neighbor around seemed to taint everything, though, and I felt like I just couldn't wait to escape. It was like my resentment and frustration had seeped into the walls, it was like living with a poltergeist. Everything about the place seemed to be physically repelling me. But no more. Loud Neighbor's leaving. He's actually leaving, and we'll never live above him again! I can't stop thinking about this fact, and how free it makes me feel.
Now I can put my plans back into action. I want to have the management replace the window in the bedroom, because it's kinda weak and drafty. I want to get a new shrine for Mom, and I want to plant seeds in the prettily-decorated little pots a friend sent me last spring. I need to repair some holes in the walls, and shampoo the carpet. In short, a rather large amount of spring cleaning needs to be done. I'm excited to do it, because the place truly feels like it belongs to us again, and I want to take care of it.
Everything is looking up. I no longer feel like a prisoner in my own home, I don't have to deal with the stress of moving this year, my depression is lifting, my soap-making business is starting to grow wings, my mom is coming to visit in a couple of weeks. The days are getting warmer, and every afternoon I see birds courting each other in the tree outside my window. In short, it's spring, and I don't think I have ever been happier to witness its arrival.
I had a lot of plans for this dinky little place, and I was a bit saddened by the idea of moving away. The experience of having Loud Neighbor around seemed to taint everything, though, and I felt like I just couldn't wait to escape. It was like my resentment and frustration had seeped into the walls, it was like living with a poltergeist. Everything about the place seemed to be physically repelling me. But no more. Loud Neighbor's leaving. He's actually leaving, and we'll never live above him again! I can't stop thinking about this fact, and how free it makes me feel.
Now I can put my plans back into action. I want to have the management replace the window in the bedroom, because it's kinda weak and drafty. I want to get a new shrine for Mom, and I want to plant seeds in the prettily-decorated little pots a friend sent me last spring. I need to repair some holes in the walls, and shampoo the carpet. In short, a rather large amount of spring cleaning needs to be done. I'm excited to do it, because the place truly feels like it belongs to us again, and I want to take care of it.
Everything is looking up. I no longer feel like a prisoner in my own home, I don't have to deal with the stress of moving this year, my depression is lifting, my soap-making business is starting to grow wings, my mom is coming to visit in a couple of weeks. The days are getting warmer, and every afternoon I see birds courting each other in the tree outside my window. In short, it's spring, and I don't think I have ever been happier to witness its arrival.