the story of how I acquired the drying rack of my dreams

(written August 2008)

Trevor and I went to IKEA on our fourth wedding anniversary to get a new drying rack, the ANTONIUS. I first saw it in the IKEA catalog and then online. The write up was wonderful:

Key features:

Folds to save space when not in use.
Adjustable feet for stability on uneven floors.

Product dimensions:

Width: 27 ½ "
Height: 63 "

Good to Know:

41 yds of clothes line.
Product Description:

Steel, Anti-corrosive phosphate coating,

Pigmented epoxy/polyester powder coating

package measurements & weight
(1 packages in total)

I was so excited since the two drying racks I have barely give me 20 yards of drying space. I would have been smart to look at the package measurements & weight link, but I didn’t care. The drying rack of my dreams was in reach and with two little ones in cloth diapers; I would have all the drying area I needed! And IKEA was out of stock that night. BUMMER.

Last night I checked the stock availability and it was IN STOCK. I took the kids and off we went today, after rechecking the stock availability. I parked in the 15 minute loading zone, since I knew it was row 31, bin 8 that I wanted. I was going through the maze that makes up IKEA, taking all the short cuts to the self-serve furniture area and I heard a familiar voice. It was Denise and her daughter from church. I go over and say “Hi!” and explain that I am in the loading zone and just there to pick up the drying rack of my dreams, so I can’t stay and chat. Off we go to row 31, bin 8. (If you’re never shopped IKEA, all the wheels on the carts move, making taking corners very difficult, especially if you are traveling at a semi-high rate of speed. Keatt and Wesley crashed into a few things. What was I afraid of if my car stayed in the loading area too long –having my car ticketed? towed? tires slashed?)

I stand in row 31 looking up at the number 8 and see nothing. Finally, I realize the eight is there for an entire area, not just the drying rack. I look down and there is THE RACK. I have no idea if it was there the other night, I had checked the availability online and it was not available (we went anyway). The rack is rather heavy and LONG. I knew it would be over 5 feet tall, I assumed (ops!) that it would need to be assembled. I hoped my car was five feet wide and made my purchase. Turns out, 1999 Honda Civics are not five feet wide right behind the front seats. If I didn’t have the kids with me, maybe, maybe, it would have fit in the truck with the seats down—maybe. I tried anyway and looked like a dork. Meanwhile, Wesley (two months at the time) was starting to cry, but Keatt was holding herself together. Wesley was attracting the attention of the young boys in the van nearby. I grabbed up the 20 pound drying rack and walked over to the returns area, thinking if I could just run into Denise and if she was driving her Honda Passport, there was a chance I could get my rack home today. I wait in line to ask the cashier if I could leave my rack there while I looked for my friend since it would not fit in my car. Okay, but only for a few minutes. I will say this, IKEA is not known for their customer service in my book. The entire time I am carrying the rack and pushing a cart with two kids, one getting louder and louder by the second, no one offered any help. Thanks, IKEA.

I race back through the self service area and turn into the maze that is IKEA and see Denise and her daughter. I’m sure I sounded like someone possessed when I told her what happened. She did drive her Passport that day and she could take my rack home for me. HOORAY! I turn the stupid four-wheels-move-at-once-cart around and head back to the returns area to get my rack and get out of there! Wesley is screaming and would not take his pacifier. Denise offers to push the cart while I hold Wesley, but I knew what Wesley wanted and he would just keep screaming, since he would have to wait to be fed, I left him in the cart. I get over to the returns area and grabbed my rack. Three associates were there, one was talking to a customer and one looked at me oddly as I grabbed the rack. He did not offer to help as the cart with my kids careened from side to side as I struggled to get both of them and the rack out the door. PHEW! We made it to the car. I loaded in Keatt and then the screaming baby. I helped load up my new drying rack and made plans to see it later.

After I put the kids to bed, I finally got some alone time with ANTONIUS. Wow, that is some serious drying yardage. I almost felt badly that my first drying experience was with a small load of diapers. Yet, I was overjoyed with my new drying rack.