Ikea or Bust

When I was in Wyoming my daughter and I drove to Denver, Colorado to shop at the newest IKEA store in the nation.  It is a 450,000 square foot facility, housing three floors of endless shopping decisions.








I had experienced nothing like it before.  The closest I could relate to it was the sidewalks of New York City where it seemed to me that one side of the street everyone walked in a northerly direction while on the other side of the street everyone walked toward the south {or it could be east and west depending on what street I was walking}.

Arrows directing patrons of IKEA are painted on the floors so as to keep the crowd moving in an orderly fashion.  I don't think I had ever seen so many people in one building, except maybe at a concert or sporting event.  There were drones of people pushing shopping buggies, baby strollers or standing in line for lunch, a furniture cart or check-out.  We drove onto the drive to the IKEA store at 10:30 a.m. and our car's tires did not touch that pavement again until 6:30 p.m. when we had loaded the trunk and drove out of parking garage onto our next destination.





Oh yes, we still had MORE shopping to do.  Unbelievable, I know.  But when TJ and I get an opportunity to shop without diapers to change or potties to frequent we are unstoppable!







To prove what determined shoppers we are there is another story within this story.  In the dark of early morning on the day of our IKEA excursion, TJ and I settled into the front seats of their van with coffee in hand and excitement in our bones.  All car seats had been removed from the back making as much space as possible for the glorious bounty we would haul home. We were about two miles out of town when the temperature gauge began climbing.  When TJ realized that the engine was getting hotter with each revolution of the tires, she turned around and headed back to her garage. By the time we pulled into her driveway the warning light was not only flashing, but a bing-bing-binging alarm was sounding. Our hearts heaved a heavy sigh of disappointment.

Then we saw it --the little black compact car sitting in the other bay of their garage. Saved by the American -2-car-family-Dream!


So what if we wouldn't have the room of the van.  We could make it work.  We knew how to load a dishwasher and a suitcase to maximum capacity.  A compact car would be a breeze!



Upward and onward to IKEA we went and what a day we had.  We sat in chairs, reclined on sofas, rubbed our hands over linens, measured shelving and walked one hundred miles.  We pushed and pulled two carts at once, demanding our bodies to perform in perfect balance. I guess I could give up the notion of a gym membership and just do the shopping workout.  But that would not support my philosophy of reduce, reuse and recycle, now would it?

And yes, we loaded the little black car to the max.  Not only did we shop at IKEA, we hit a few garage sales and another furniture store on our way back to Wyoming.  We pulled into TJ's garage close to midnight, left the car full of all our treasures and headed to bed.

The next morning the unpacking began.

TJ wasn't sure where to start as she surveyed the many boxes, parts and piles that we had managed to pack into the tiny car.

But of course, her daddy came to the rescue and began opening boxes and assembling pieces.

Muffin tried out the benches we purchased for the kitchen table that he-man finished assembling moments earlier.

Cautious and Sparky tried out the chairs that TJ planned to use in their art room.















He-man-hubby moved rapidly from one box to the other as if he were a one-man-assembly line. 

He was there to determine all parts and place them exactly where they should go.  Now TJ and I can pack a car--- but discerning what part goes where is not our strong suit.

I think Sparky could have some of her grandpa's genes.  She knew what leg attached to what base and what tool was needed to attach it.  She became he-man's dependable apprentice.

In the end we had stuffed one coffee table, two side tables, two chairs, two desk-type-tables, one vanity bench, one ottoman, one desk, three sets of bedding, six panels of drapery, a number of picture frames, kitchen decor, a light fixture, six pillows, storage boxes, vases, bowls and a birthday present into the back of a car made for hauling golf clubs and groceries.

And he-man put the majority of it together with only a few parts remaining.  Ain't he somethin'?







Here's what I'm thinking..... if the man who created IKEA began his business delivering furniture on his bicycle... why shouldn't a mother and daughter be able to fill a house full of furniture with determination, a credit card and a Volkswagen Passat?

 

Thanks for visiting.  I hope you find a solution to a challenge.  I hope you have the energy needed to do what you like to do.  I hope you have someone to help you put things together.  I hope you are grateful for living the American Dream.