The parents came into town today. Handsome’s family is set to arrive in a couple hours. Said arrivals conjure both lots of love and lots of “OH MY GOD…ALL THE FAMILY IS COMING INTO TOWN!!!” They’re all here for Handsome and my graduation from law school on Sunday.
Some facts that have had me worrying for the past week:
- The apartment has to be spotless, so we’ve been cleaning for two days straight. It really wasn’t that dirty…I’m just a lunatic who needs to make sure every speck of dust is vacuumed up when the rents and grand-rents come into town.
- We’re hosting our own graduation party tomorrow night, so I spent all morning shopping for appetizers and desserts and drinks and getting tomorrow’s dinner prepared and ready for the oven.
- This will be the first time Handsome’s family meets Glam’s family. Bring on the embarrassing childhood stories and the hoping they actually like each other. Because we all know that if his mother doesn’t like my mother, it’s going to make for a very rocky road ahead.
- And finally, the “real” dads will also be here with their respective signficant others. So, my dad and girlfriend will be sharing the same 1000 square feet with my mama and step-dad. Ditto for Handsome’s dad, except that he’s married to his signficant other. Let’s just say that both of our dads and step-dads have gotten into fist fights with each other at some point in the past. This should be fun.
After picking up my family from the airport, we went to dinner and I got the most wonderful gift from my grandparents.
When I first started school, I had a lot of trouble finding an affordable apartment in NYC. So, when I finally found a place that would work and was very expensive for anywhere else in the world affordable enough for NYC, I put in an application. Only problem is that I had (and still have) a pup that I could not part with. The apartment would only accept my application if, in addition to the one month’s rent deposit, I paid an additional two months’ rent for the dog…for a grand total of 3 months’ rent to secure the apartment.
I did not live anywhere near NYC and was only in the city for 3 days to find an apartment. This was the last day of the 3-day trip. Therefore, I had no choice but to take their offer and pay the three months’ rent deposit. (Just for those of you who have never looked into the NYC rent market, rent for a one bedroom is typically at least $3,000/month…making my deposit a whopping $9,000!!!!!!)
Well, I didn’t have that much money. And although I had saved some…I was still about $5,000 short. So, I swallowed my pride and asked my grandparents if I could borrow the money. They said of course, as long as I paid them back some day. I knew that I would and was profusely happy for their generosity. I even wrote them a letter thanking them and telling them that I would pay them back as soon as I was able.
Over the past three years, I have never quite been in a position to part with $5,000. Unfortunately, law school is expensive…and law school in NYC is especially expensive because of rent and living expenses.
Well today I opened a card from my granparents and inside was the letter I originally wrote three years ago with “PAID” stamped across it. I nearly cried. It was the absolute best gift my grandparents could have given me. Basically, they just gave me a $5,000 gift. But more than that, it was a total abolishment of a loan that I fully intended to pay back. In fact, with my impending graduation and employment, I had really begun to start thinking about this money that I owed my grandparents.
This gift has lifted such a weight off my shoulders that I don’t think I’ll ever be able to express my appreciation. The fact that they gave me that money when I really needed it and have now abolished my debt to them, I am forever grateful.
Love you Mimi and Papaw!
And here’s hoping that this weeking goes well. Fingers crossed.
I won’t elaborate too much, but if you want to know more, look at my “100 Tidbits” page.