I’ve been watching Sex And the City lately and just to be clear, so far my “single girl in the suburbs” life has not mimicked the show. I have not become stylish, smooth of tongue or sharp of wit. I have not been beseiged by single, hunky (male) neighbours asking for my number or to borrow some sugar. But it’s early days yet.

I did have some lovely visitors yesterday, my family! They really brightened up the whole experience for me because to be frank I haven’t been really that delighted over the whole moving out thing. It’s weird: it’s not that I hate living on my own, it’s just that I’m really not over the moon about it. I’m not excited. Moving day itself started with a lot of problems but they worked out and I was so grateful to the friends that showed up. I imagined my days of unpacking and getting settled a bit differently than the reality, and thought I’d have friends calling left and right to ask if I needed help. Some had offered me their used/unwanted belongings and I thought they’d follow up on that. In short, I thought it would be all about me, but learned that other people have lives too. I’m still reeling from this discovery. :) But seriously, I think I thought more of a fuss would be made so that made me feel unloved. But I’m over that now.

Back to my family. First off, my mother had been running trying to find the larger items I need (couches, bedroom set) at various furniture stores, putting them on hold for me to go and view (and invariably declare I hate them). I did like two dining room chairs she spotted though, so I bought them. I found a sofa and loveseat that I love but their price tag seems to be missing a sale sign and a discount of some sort. I’m not in a rush anyway. I decided I wanted dark brown wood for my bedroom set and I found something I liked (though in a brown/black) at Ikea. My dad wanted to know why I didn’t buy it and it was then he learned that shopping and not getting a deal on my purchase physically hurts me. Since I found what I wanted, my parents insisted we meet at the store with their more robust automobile, and we picked up all the pieces and headed home.

My father got to work putting together the dining table that had been sitting on the floor for over a week. They bought me a nice floor lamp too, which was on my list so that was assembled. They also brought food! And dessert: my mom and sister brought the fixings for dinner and whipped up dinner while I lounged on the floor (just like I’d do at their house!). My brothers (who arrived later) were put to work assembling my beds and the night table (abandoned by me earlier in the evening — too many boring steps that have to be followed exactly).

It was just like old times, down to my brothers ordering pizza because they weren’t interested in what my mom was preparing. We ate, my beer guzzling brother drank merrily and they headed home, leaving order in their wake, nearly five hours later.

There is nothing like cheap labour, and labours of love.

Filed under: Family, Operation Home for Jummy by jummy