Saturday, November 24, 2007

I'm Becoming My Mother

If you've ever met my mother, I suppose you know that it was just a matter of time. But here we are.

My mother has a ritual that soothes her. It's a little peculiar, but it certainly doesn't harm anyone and it makes her happy. She is kind of obsessive about her bed. Making the bed is a huge big deal. She irons the sheets (and not just the top edge that shows, thank you very much). There are two dust ruffles. The pillows are just-so. The mattress pad is so tight that this tiny little woman has to kneel in the middle of the bed and tug to get it to go around the corners. Yet, once she's done all that, she sleeps better. (No kidding. She probably wore herself out. But just wait... I'd best not be casting verbal stones.)

So, I moved back into my house over the last few days. I still have stuff strewn across the country, but I'm sleeping in my very own house. I went upstairs to the bedroom and saw the huge king-size bed that we have because Dave is so tall. I stopped dead in my tracks. WAY too many memories there for a good night's sleep! So I slept in my daughter's bed (she doesn't live here... it's not like I kicked her out or anything), which is where I've been for the past few nights. It's been quite comfortable, actually.

But then I remembered that there is an antique bed that I bought at an estate sale several years ago. It's up in the attic; we couldn't use it because Dave wouldn't fit in it. But I can use it now! And I can have a girl-bed. I want to have a girl-bed, complete with all the silly pillows that no one is actually allowed to sleep on. I want to take that king-sized bed out of that room and turn the room into my space.

So yesterday I bought a mattress. It will be delivered on Tuesday. Now I get to go shopping for girl-sheets. But if I start ironing them, you'll know I've crossed a line. Feel free to stop me!

11 comments:

Lexy said...

This is wonderful! You deserve your space back but not with that memory-heavy king bed. I'm so excited for you!

I must confess. I had the iron out the other day and ironed my pillowcases. It seems the better sheets wrinkle much more than those old polyester blends I used to buy.

I LOVED sleeping on them. And trust me, my mom didn't iron clothes much less sheets.

Go do girly!

Lisa :-] said...

I would definitely draw the line at ironing sheets. Which is why I'm not so keen on all those "luxury high-thread-count" sheets they have now. They are definitely NOT wash and wear. You pay $200 for a set of sheets, and they come out of the dryer looking like something out of the rag bin. Give me good old-fashioned wrinkle-free percale, thank you very much...

Lexy said...

NOW you tell me. That's exactly what I did (although not $200) and they come out of the dryer looking like I crunched them in a ball and let the dog lay on them for a week.

This is not conducive to bringing out the feminine!

Jen R said...

What a great idea--except for the ironing the sheets part. It'll be so much fun putting together your space, complete with "girl bed".

I'm with Lisa on the "luxury" sheets. I got some, but some of my old percale sheets actually feel nicer.

And some of them are really pretty!

behaha said...

Yay! your own bed should go a long way toward making this your own house, your own space -- what a terrific idea! I can't wait to see pictures --

Anonymous said...

Putting the "girly" bedroom together is an important post-breakup ritual. I foresee cans of paint in your future. Also candles, soft music, and a comfy chair.

breadchick said...

What a great way to start your new life with the bed you always wanted. When I left MBH I too was able to finally sleep in my antique bed I had stashed in storage because he didn't like antiques. I love that bed and every time I crawl into the warm sheets and lie down on the the down tuffed mattress I feel like a new woman. Thinking good thoughts for you and glad you finally in your own house again.

Renee said...

Yay! Girly bed! I would totally girlify the bathroom, too, right down to a rug around the base of the toilet that you couldn't have before because men can never learn to aim properly but which now you can have and will keep your feet from becoming chilled by the cold tile.

Oh, and I personally love jersey sheets in the summer and flannel in the winter. You can get them in girly prints and they never need ironing.

Anonymous said...

not that there is anything wrong with ironing sheets---especially with lavender linen water . . .

Mollie F. said...

Oh, dear. I have high-thread-count sheets (try TJMaxx for bargains), and I iron the top sheet and the pillowcases. I don't mind ironing (it's part of my Sunday evening ritual--Sunday Night Football and ironing--I'm pretty sure that NFL's marketing department hasn't considered that angle). And thanks for the tip about lavender linen water, anonymous!

But all my pillows are meant to be slept on.

How wonderful that you're able to turn your space into your own!

Andrea Rusin said...

The lavender comment HAS TO BE my sister. But I actually own some. It's easy to make, but I bought it at Bed Bath and Beyond.

The bed was delivered today, but I'm too worn out from hauling the king-sized bed out of there to finish the project. I probably won't sleep on it tonight. But I did buy green and pink Laura Ashley sheets -with lace. ACK!!!