My youngest moved into his own place in September, leaving his bedroom vacant at last - the bedroom where he'd kept goldfish, played with Matchbox cars, built castles out of Legos and fashioned rockets from cardboard gift wrap tubes. It was both a sad and a happy time for me - sad because my youngest child had flown the coop and I knew I would miss him sorely but it was also a happy time because he'd found a good job and moved into his own place that he was paying for himself. After all, as parents that's what we strive for - to raise autonomous, responsible adults who will make a contribution to the world. My husband and I both knew it signaled the beginning of true adulthood and for that we are both proud and happy of both of our sons.
And so, we cleaned out Sean's room, painted it and my husband refinished the scuffed oak floors. I had plans for this space. I realized what I wanted more than anything was to have my books all in one place. Half of them are up in the attic in boxes or scattered among a variety of bookcases. I wanted them here in my office where I could at last organize them and have them within easy grasp. But, I had a problem. I only had one little wooden barrister's bookcase my mom had given me and it was already full. I needed bookshelves. In case you hadn't priced them lately, good bookshelves are pretty expensive and I sort of felt I was beyond the boards and bricks bookcases of my college years.
My husband, Dennis, is an artist with wood. He claims he's not but he really is. Last year he made us a bedroom set consisting of two dressers, a blanket chest and two night tables and now, these beautiful cherry bookcases with curly maple inlay. It took him a couple of months but they were certainly worth waiting for. And they are beautiful. It's one of the best presents anybody has ever given me. And I don't care what anybody says; homemade is the best!
Just as soon as the second case gets its second coat of varnish and the shelves are all in place, I will post a picture.
