Oh, the Humanity!

Q: How much stuff does it take to move into your first apartment?

A: See photo.

In the culminating moment of two months-worth of thrifting, bargain-hunting, hand-me-downing and checking-things-off- lists(-ing?), now comes the moment of truth: fitting it all into the car. This photo is the (almost) end result. I say “almost” because not everything made the cut. I will not be taking a shelving unit I had hoped to, nor the TV, nor the dish-rack. I almost had to give up the shoe-rack too, until I remembered that I could take it apart and thus reduce it to a pile of boards and a handful of screws. But another reason I say “almost” is because it’s not really done. You see, somehow I have to fit several more things into that rat’s nest: my pillows, my knitting basket, my toiletries, my office supplies…dear God. I don’t know how I’m going to do it. I truly don’t. But I am – and my family is – resourceful and clever. And also able to tolerate rather uncomfortable driving conditions for periods of time. I hope.

By the way, the itinerary is this: we leave Sunday afternoon and head down to Milwaukee to spent the evening with family friends. Then on Monday we’ll make the drive down to the U of C, unload my things (breathe a sigh of relief that we’ve made it), and then my family heads back up to Milwaukee to spend the night, rather than trying to make it all the way to Appleton after unloading the contents of my apartment. Did I mention that I’ll be living on the third floor of a building with no elevator? I didn’t? Well, you can just imagine how much fun this will be. Pity you can't join us - you're really missing out.

And yes, that is a six-pack of beer in the lower right-hand corner of the photo. I have a feeling we'll be needing it.