Some people are going to disagree with me, but I like IKEA projects and those that are similar. I like putting things together, as long as there are decent instructions. So, when I was in Brooklyn with a friend for her daughter’s move over a year ago, and I found out she wanted to get some IKEA furniture for her new apartment, I. Was. In.

She wanted no part of it. So, it was a great fit. There were plenty of other jobs to be done. And the job they were going to work on seemed as daunting to me as the furniture job seemed to them, so it was a good trade off. 

We headed to IKEA, and, unfortunately, we could only pick up one large item, but it was a piece I’d never assembled before, and it had drawers and enough pieces to challenge me. I positioned myself on a floor and opened the box and took inventory. 

Well, there were extra pieces. That’s okay. Better too many than not enough. Then it was time to begin. I made only one misstep along the way, and the finished product was nice. We moved it into the designated room and found it was a perfect fit for the space in the apartment. I helped with some other small projects then we walked to an incredible restaurant for supper.

It was a great day of travel, or rather, a great trip. I love the city, and I had time to explore. I stayed in the Upper East Side for the first time. I spent time in Bryant Park, soaking up the sunshine, people watching, reading, and savoring a fresh bagel. I went to the top of the Empire State Building and looked south, then went to the top of the One World Observatory and looked north. I noticed details of the World Trade Center Memorial I had overlooked on prior visits. I rode the tram to Roosevelt Island for the first time and walked the length of it.  

I spent time with one of my very best friends. We walked among beautiful buildings and commented on the architecture. We found a place to sit and eat and conversed with our server. We sat in the sun for as long as we could one afternoon. And we connected with her daughter every moment we could. To me, the cherry on top was to be able to help. It’s not like what I contributed was much, but it was a time of transition, and we hopefully helped put her mind at ease just by being present, treating her to a few meals, spending time exploring and shopping a bit. 

We had great conversations. I enjoyed listening to her perspective and experiences. I’d been in the city with her before. It was fun to return, and I hope it’s not the last time I’ll see her on her home turf. I might have put together some pieces for her, but spending time with her was like putting together some pieces for me.

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