We honestly didn’t think it was going to happen. Earlier this week we had no countertops and no running water in our kitchen. On faith, Laura and Amy bought a frozen turkey anyway. We figured we could have Thanksgiving Dinner on Saturday if things didn’t work out. If they REALLY didn’t work out, then at least we still had access to the rental cottage through the end of the week and could cook there.
But things did work out. Monday morning the countertops were installed. Tuesday morning Val got the sink installed and water connected to the dishwasher. After a bit of turmoil, the electricians got our vent hood connected and working. By Wednesday we had a fully functioning kitchen.
Our dining room was still a cityscape of boxes we called Unpackistan.
We concentrated on unpacking these boxes first, searching for dishes and silverware, and putting away foodstuffs as we found them. We had to make lots of quick decisions as to where things go, and I’m sure there’s going to be lots of rearranging in our future. But we managed to get the space cleared for a nice dinner. Amy even decorated.
The turkey was a triumph. The new range took some getting used to, but it worked marvelously.
After 22 years of living in this house with a tiny oven, Laura was happy to finally have a full-sized one.
Today we start unpacking other parts of the house. We also visit the rental company and return our keys to the cottage. It served us well during our sojourn. There are some parts of it that we’ll actually miss, such as the large master bathroom, walk-in closet, pantries, and garage. Our mid-century house just doesn’t have those luxuries, but it’s still our home and we’d rather be there.
The house seems at once familiar and somewhat strange. Two rooms are completely different, but we’ll get used to it. Prior to Thanksgiving Dinner we made a champaign toast to our reconstructed home.
This year we have much for which to be thankful. My brother’s cancer treatments (which I haven’t mentioned at all here) have been successful. We are all in good health, and we are now back in our lovely home. Life is good.
I rejoice for you and for Laura. I hope that you get a chance to really enjoy this house for a while now. And may the unpacking be more of a celebration than a chore. Peace be with you.
Congratulations for your Home Coming. I know you both are so happy. I can’t imagine being out of our house that long, let alone those circumstances.
Welcome Home !