I can’t remember…

I can’t remember when I purchased this welcome mat.  It may have been a month or two after I moved into my new apartment.  It was a harsh winter this year, and I was tired of tracking mud and snow and salt into my home.  I know, however, that I bought the welcome mat at Home Depot.  It was made of recycled materials, and I bought two mats that day – the second one is used for storing my boots and shoes by the side of the door, should I wish to take them off and walk around my apartment in my stocking feet, should I so choose.

I can’t remember when I purchased the nails.  It might have been at the same Home Depot, a small packet of nails in a little red cardboard package.  I remember that I used the nails on the first day I moved into my apartment.  The first thing I hung on the wall – my framed, autographed copy of Manhattan Transfer’s Vocalese LP.  It was signed by all four members AND their vocal coach, Jon Hendricks.  My framed gold record went on the wall next, and then my framed and autographed copy of James Brown’s Live at the Apollo Vol. 1 LP – a crownless King mono pressing.

I can’t remember when I purchased the coat hangers.  I know that I purchased them at Wal-Mart in Latham; the hanger braces were covered with a velvet-like wrap, perfect for hanging my shirts nicely and neatly.  I bought three packages of the hangers; every time I hung a new, freshly-laundered shirt on one, I pulled the old, decrepit wire hanger out of the closet and set it aside.  Eventually I took all those wire hangers to a fluff ‘n fold laundromat and left them for the attendants to use.  They appreciated that.

I can’t remember when I purchased the pots and pans.  I believe they came from either Price Chopper or one of the cooking stores in Crossgates Mall.  I know I purchased the microwaveable bacon crisper at Crossgates; I used that to nuke my cheddarwurst sausages until they burst open with screams of steam.  Ah, “screamers,” I called them.  Tasty meat that’s really a sweet treat.  But I do remember the first meal I made with my pots and pans – I purchased some steaks at the Deli Warehouse on Fuller Road.  Delicious.  Then I made some buttered noodles.  Scrumptious.  A meal fit for a king.  And I don’t mean, “Here King, here’s some table scraps for you, King…”

I can’t remember when I bought the vacuum cleaner.  I do remember, however, that I bought it at a yard sale – Kevin Marshall’s friend Eric was having a yard sale and, along with the Kodak Bull’s-Eye camera I purchased, I also acquired a small upright vacuum.  The vacuum does what it has to do; just the same, however, I also acquired a carpet sweeper to save some electricity.

I can’t remember the first sweltering muggy evening I spent in my apartment.  I do remember, however, that my friend Cynthia took pity on me and kindly lent me her spare window-centric air conditioning unit.  I still have the unit and my landlord promises that the next time summer rolls around, he’ll help me install it properly.  I did have it in the window, but I took it out after Tropical Storm Irene.  Thanks, Cindy.  Even so, sometimes on a hot night I’ll open my bedroom window and as the evening falls, I drift asleep as the outdoor breezes waft in.

I can’t remember when I purchased the mop and bucket.  I do remember, though, that I purchased it because I liked how clean and shiny the tiled floors were in my place, and I wanted to keep them that way.  Again, another Wal-Mart purchase.  Just something to get the floors nice and shiny, just as I remembered them in the old commercials.

I can’t remember when I purchased a lot of home essentials this year.

I can, however, remember March 13, 2011.

That’s the day I walked onto my porch, wiped my feet on the welcome mat, entered my apartment and said to myself, “It’s good to be home.”

And at that point in time, I realized.  I was truly living on my own.

And everything was going to be okay with that.