tea at three.

since i’ve moved to my new place, i’ve been going to ikea every weekend to get some “stuff” to put in all of the space i now have. i’ve always sort of slightly detested having to go to ikea because they’re always packed with people (even at 2:00 pm on a Wednesday), the combination of an overwhelming amount of inventory and meandering people with shopping carts who seem like they have no idea what they’re doing or where they’re going, and the fact that it makes me feel like a mouse in a maze except you actually have to pay for the treat at the end (i prefer the $1 cinnamon roll). anyway, my recent and frequent trips have caused me to realize one other aspect about shopping at the swedish superstore that is very unfortunate: the number of couples that seem like they’re about to break up and never speak again over curtains (or color of veneer, or futon style, or area rug shape). for some reason that just seems so depressing to me. partially because i completely remember what it was like to be in that situation and can definitely recall the times when i’ve been just as guilty. but, after having been single now for the past 2 1/2 years, it just seems so silly. the fact that people can honestly sit there and fight in the middle of a store in front of hundreds of people over door knobs….that’s just ridiculous. one of my favorites are the bilingual couples who think that if they argue in another language, people won’t realize that they’re, in fact, having an argument because they assume nobody can understand what they’re saying. to me, that makes it even MORE obvious.

so in addition to my usual feelings of claustrophobia, indecision, and over-stimulation yesterday, i actually was sort of depressed and amused at the same time. depressed that people allow things like ikea to get angry at their loved ones and amused because i was so happy i was alone. sure, it would’ve been nice to have someone push the flat cart so i could actually buy the wardrobe i desperately need but i’d rather do it myself than fight over a soap dish.

rj