I love my wife; I love my child; I love my dogs; and I love this house. Life is incredible right now. What I feel is probably just remnants of endorphins from recent happy moments that will fade soon, but I intend to enjoy this high as long as it lasts. Sophia has been amazing through this move, and I never would have imagined she’d be the one leading the entire operation after her strong initial resistance. But when you’ve found your home, you just feel it. This kitchen is my absolute favorite of all my kitchens. It’s not necessarily the nicest or the largest, because our last kitchen was pretty awesome. The actual workspace is about the same as what we had before, but the open floor plan makes it feel way less confined. I think, after the birthday party, I’m gonna change some things around and put a sofa where Desi’s dollhouse is. That’s how Less’ kitchen is set up. I thought little of it because she needs it. When she and all her kids sit around the table, there’s no room for anyone else. But as I think about how we’ll gather in this space, I realize I need to make it more conducive to how it will be used.
My mind drifted while eating breakfast because my little girl ages up today. I am happy, and sad, and proud, and excited, and scared, and I feel crazy experiencing all of this simultaneously. That’s when it hit me: I’m gonna be feeling crazy like this for the rest of my life. Desiree will never stop growing and starting new chapters, and we’re going for the ride right along with her. Now I understand why my parents always beamed at me with such pride and admiration. Watching your child blossom is such a magical experience.
A text from Chi Chi jolted me out of my thoughts. It said my tenants haven’t taken out their trash all week, which means they’ve been letting the trash pile up in the house. That message both alarmed me and made me laugh because I never pictured her being the neighborhood watch type. I appreciate her looking out, though, because I would never know. I drafted a lenient rental agreement to further enhance the home-like environment I want this family to enjoy. A bunch of rules would just cause friction between us, as most of the usual ones are unnecessary for a single-family house. The only thing I was adamant about was keeping the place tidy. I will not abide someone trashing our house and inviting all manner of pests like a neon we’re open sign. I considered letting them off with a warning for the first offense, but if I’ve learned anything from Dub’s saga, it’s that I need to be firm from the jump. So, I sent them a §600 fine via the system. Within minutes, I received an email saying they weren’t going to pay! My eyebrow went up so high it could have touched my hairline. Looks like I need to get dressed and get over there.
When I arrived, I laughed to myself because, of course, all the trash had magically disappeared, and I knew they were going to fight me, saying I falsely accused them or some other nonsense. Unluckily for them, I’ve got time for shenanigans.
“So, what’s this about not paying my fine?”
He had that deer in headlights look.
“Uhh…heh, ehhh, I was just jerking you around dude.”
I’m sure I had the blankest of expressions because I didn’t know how to respond to that and halfway believed I even heard what I thought I heard.
“I was just trying to see how far I could go,” he continued. “We’ve lived in a lot of places with all kinds of landlords. I just had to see what kind you are.”
What kind of a landlord am I? I may not have to worry about money anymore, but I’m not running a charity. That’s the kind of landlord I am, heh.
“I see. I’m chill. And I’m fair. But if you don’t pay what you owe, we’ve got problems.”
“Understood. I’ll pay the fine right now. And sorry about the trash. It’s just been one of those weeks.”
I can’t say I’ve ever had a week so bad I forgot to take out the trash, but I also do not have twins. I know just how hectic life can get with an infant, but two of them? Yikes. As a fellow first-time father, I cut him some slack. I’m still expecting that payment, though.
