Ghostly

There's about a third of my building who are previous tenants who decided to return. And while I didn't really know anyone that well before the whole "you have to leave now ok bye" thing, there was something about the incredibly unsettling experience that drew a few of us more good natured ones together. And so it was nice to see some familiar faces in my first few days back.

I chatted with one gal on my first night here (hanging my head out the window as she unpacked her car actually) and asked her how things were going (she'd been moved back in about a week.)

She told me that other than the noise/construction still ongoing, the biggest thing she noticed was what she was calling "phantom kitchen."

See, in the renovating they did, the kitchen is the thing that really changed. Sure, there's new paint and blinds and a new toilet and cabinet mirror, but the kitchen? Was completely gutted and redone. And it's very different (and awesome and nice.)

She said that she kept going for things that weren't there anymore or reaching to open cabinets that didn't exist.

I kind of laughed, and we chatted about something else, but you guys? Now that I've lived here a bit?

I totally know what she's talking about.

It's happened to me a couple of times now, usually at night or when I'm tired or not really paying attention, but I'll turn from the sink to reach for the pantry cupboard and be reminded that that's the fridge now.

Or I'll round the corner from the living room and head towards the cabinet where my cereal is kept and realize that that cabinet isn't there, hasn't been there since I moved back, and will never be there.

It's an odd feeling.

I guess moving always is a bit odd, weird, uncomfortable, disconcerting, but moving back in to your old place that's no longer your old place?

Is different.