This’ll be on the next episode of “Cribs”.
We spent much of a HOT, MUGGY weekend moving First Born into a new apartment, trying not to wheeze too loud or wring too much sweat out of our shirts around Jessie’s young strapping guy helpers reeking of Axe and hopped up on energy drinks. We were so efficient that by the time the oldtimers (Joe and I) left to take a nap on Saturday, Jessie’s home was completely unpacked and set up.
Though this is her third apartment, something about it dragged me right back down memory lane (an old rutted dirt road, actually, the kind of lane you don’t see on a map because NOBODY wants to drive down it), and into memories of my first apartment. Man oh man, I loved that place.
I lived above a temp agency business in a 100-year-old brick building; its corner location created a lovely half-turret in the living room. Its location was also in a very rough area of town on a busy street that marked the boundaries between two street gangs that sometimes fought right there on the road. Generally, traffic would re-route itself as soon as they saw crowds in gang colors starting to gather on the corners.
Inside, though, were gorgeous mellowed oak floors and ancient windows with wavery glass and oft-painted decorative scrollwork. The hot water radiators (controlled by my landlord) let out so much steamy heat that we could wear shorts year-round, and even our Jamaican friend felt cozy during the Chicago winter. I bought a mattress and a sectional couch at a discount store, and all sorts of people emptied their attics to furnish our place. I can’t quite come up with an image to describe how big our living room was, other than to stay there was a large sectional couch, a queen-sized sofa sleeper, two big old reclining chairs, a TV and a coffee table, yet people were so far from each other on these seats that we’d all end up sitting on the floor around the coffee table.
The kitchen had windows along a tree-lined side street. On the 4th of July we bought an entire case of Black Cat jumping jacks, and dropped them, spinning and sparking, onto the cars driving by. In this kitchen I learned the most difficult of all cooking techiniques - timing the dishes so that everything was ready to eat at once. I also learned that adding mint chocolate chips to oatmeal cookie dough is a really bad idea.
We worked lots of second and third shifts (I was a waitress at the time), so we might be cooking or watching TV or having a party at five a.m. on a Tuesday. We were usually so broke that a party would break out only when I’d collected $2.50 in the penny jar - and we could then go buy a case of Red White and Blue or Shlitz.
This simplicity of income and possessions was a source of tremendous freedom; we spent a lot of time at the beach or hanging out with friends. Maybe that’s what has tugged at my memory this last week. The sheer simplicity and freedom of that life sounds so wonderful, back in the day when we had (for example) only four plastic tumblers, rather than a set of glasses for everyday, a set of red wine goblets, white wine glasses, champagne flutes, pilsner glasses, brandy snifters, vodka glasses, and beer mugs. When I think that way, I realize that blessings and possessions can also become an encumbrance, and sometimes I long for simple living.
What was your first apartment like?
Published by angelawd on June 2nd, 2008 tagged Mom of Teens, My Ex-Life
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:11 pm
I think you should do this post again with the same photos and talk about the hair! Awesome hair.
My first apartment was similarly dreamy. It was off of Ventura and Van Nuys Blvds. in the San Fernando Valley, CA and featured a big living room/kitchen and .5 bath downstairs and two bedrooms and full bath upstairs. There was a sliding glass door to a little concrete “deck” outside. People gave us furniture and kitchen stuff, too. Our landlord was Mrs. Tan. The only drag was it was gruesomely hot in the summer.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Your place sounds AWESOME! And huge.
You are totally right. I’ll have to do an ‘evolution of my hair’ post someday. I don’t even know how long it took to get that look.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Not only nice hair, but NICE uniform!
Hmm, some good food for thought about simplicity versus encumberance. I think our society puts entirely too much worth in material possessions and far too little on care and concern for others. Many people appear to feel a sense of entitlement for their “stuff” and no consideration for other people’s needs. Thank you for the reminder to be grateful for the abundant blessings that my family has!
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:55 pm
You like the uniform, Josie? Nice brown polyester, and daily pantyhose wearing, as well. Uck.
I totally agree, we all have times when we put possessions before people. And before simplicity in our lives.
June 4th, 2008 at 6:42 am
I stumbled upon you blog and this post made me smile. The first apartment is a fun memory. I think I owned the same pair of jeans that had a waist just below my ribs…yuck!
I agree that we really have to balance how much “stuff” is a blessing and when we burden ourselves with property. My husband and I try to think about stuff as one more thing to maintain…is it really worth it? The upkeep of your stuff can really take away your precious time with those you love.
June 4th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
@Amy, thanks for stopping by! Yeah, balance is a hard thing, especially since every TV commercial is screaming at you to buy something.
There’s a lot I have to chuckle at in those photos above. Those Brooke Shields eyebrows! The hair! The totally late-80s red and black dress! On the other hand, my gosh, look at my figure! I’d take that back in a moment.