my secret drawer

countless. that's how many times i have silently pulled open a single kitchen drawer and smiled ever so small.

yesterday, upon returning home from a trip to ohio, i unpacked some of the items i have stored in my parents' attic over the past year. in a few short months my beautiful roommate will be leaving our lovely little home to pursue a doctorate in denver, colorado. for the first time in my life i will live alone. i have been somewhat nervous about this new chapter in my life for several reasons, none of which are worth mentioning here, but as i unpacked my silverware and dishes that have never been used a rush of excitement filled my soul.

i unpacked box after box of silverware, cookware, glassware, and dishes (oh my!) i began to see a new start on the horizon. i carefully cleaned each item in the sink and placed them on the drying rack. (i did this in four loads, as our sink is small and my boxes were quite large.) as things began to dry, however, i realized that i had no where to put them. katie's things still filled the drawers and cupboards.

i don't want katie to feel as though i'm pushing her out, unwanted, because i truly am heartbroken that such a dear friend is leaving me after so short a period of time together. i will sincerely miss this person who has come to be my complete confidant and friend over the past two years. i couldn't begin to pack up her things or move them from their purposeful places just yet.

we have one drawer, however, that is somewhat of an extra space in the kitchen. it is a wide drawer and we just keep all of the lids to our tupperware in it. katie wouldn't mind if i moved those...

i pulled the lids out of the drawer and neatly stacked them at the corner of the countertop. then began the organization process that i love so much. (seriously, i could clean and organize every day of my life!) my cutlery drawer divider fit perfectly in the oversized drawer. i gently placed each piece of silverware in its proper division and filled the extra spaces with other kitchen tools and gadgets. before i knew it, the drawer was complete.

all of my kitchen utensils fit perfectly into this one perfect oversized drawer. this drawer is my reminder now that a new life awaits me. i find myself walking into the kitchen for no other reason but to quietly pull open the drawer and gaze my small, but significant new chapter of life.