Laran’s room is the most peaceful of all of my roommates, in part becuase she has a definite understanding of the “Less is More” concept, which is especially necessary in a room where “Less” is what the landlords of Ann Arbor have already provided us. Her room has just a few decorations, all neutral and soft. Laran is one of my most loving companions. In my times of sadness or stress, she gives the best head scratches and reminds me however many times it takes that my experiences are temporary but also that they’re all valid. I see her love in the pictures she displays of her with her friends, the gentleness of the pretty welcome wreath that she took months picking out, and the affirmation quotes to herself that hang on a magnet board.
However, part of Laran is not soft. Of my roommates, she is certainly the most willing to start a fight. Yes, the physical kind, but also the verbal kind about shit-that-doesn’t-really-matter. Last night she was telling me about her mom, about how she used to leave the house for a family dinner or church service when her mom would say “don’t you wanna put on a little makeup before we leave?” She tells me about how she and her mom used to fight about shit-that-doesn’t-really-matter, and when I stand in her room, I don’t feel the frustration or angst of that kind of interaction. I feel peaceful and assured.
There are reasons why Laran’s room irks me a little bit, the welcome wreath is made of plastic which doesn’t feel too friendly, and I’m not sure she has been using her little plate of crystals and sage in the most educated manner. But I feel so comfortable here, and not even just because we may be the most similar of the roommates. There are other places where I feel this way, too.
Comments