One of the requirements of leaving a BFA apartment is leaving the paint on the walls in good condition. If the walls are not satisfactory, they must be painted. Our walls hadn’t been painted in a while (at least 4 years, probably more like 6), so the entire inside of our house has to get a fresh coat.
Fortunately, we know the people who will be living here next year, so Emily and I found out what colors they wanted the walls to be, purchased paint, and began the extensive process of making our house look better from the inside out.
We started our great project last Saturday, a week ago today. I came into this project with mixed feelings. It had already been an emotional week, and the thought of changing our home seemed like just one more piece of my heart that was being stripped away.
It wasn’t so bad, though, at least not the first day of painting. Many friends came to help. This community is a great place for moving and painting projects because there are so many willing hands. Listening to music, painting together, opening all the windows and doors to let the summer breeze fill the house, discovering light blue splashes in unexpected places, all of it made for a good day.
We started with the living room, bathroom, hallway, and entry way. The living room, famous for its bright yellow walls, was transformed into a cool, light blue room. It is actually much more relaxing to go into that room now.
I think the hardest thing will be when it comes time to paint my own bedroom walls. It will mean an end of my own space as I know it. All the decorations and maps will come down, and a new color will go up on the wall. This house, with its quirky colored walls, will no longer be my house. It will be Alli and Justina’s house. Still the green house on the outside, but no longer mine and Emily’s on the inside.
Such is life in a transient place such as BFA. The life of a nomad – occupying a space that is not truly mine. I am letting go, bit by bit, color by color, of this place I call home.
