Aging, Moving and The Chair

           
                            

Aging and the changes that are part of it are not easy. I'm thinking of

what we call 'downsizing', the transition from a one family house to a

smaller apartment.You just don't need all those rooms anymore, the

children are all grown and out, so you or you and your spouse are alone. 

Practically speaking the new home is a lot easier to deal with. Less rooms

to keep clean, no more stairs to have to climb to get to the other bathroom,

(the one with the bathtub). And many other reasons, too obvious to mention.

But the downside of downsizing is also obvious...what do you do with all

the things that won't fit in the new apartment? Some of the stuff you'd like

to keep for...what, sentimental reasons? "It's been in the family, and in my

home since my grandfather, my children's great grandfather used to sit in

that club chair when he'd come for a visit. He'd be part of our conversation

for a while and then would put his head back on the soft pillow and doze off.

We didn't mind it, in fact we were envious...when we got to be his age we

could do it too, couldn't we? 

But as for my feelings for the chair...I am one of the least sentimental

people you'll ever know. (Is that a personality flaw, a negative, is it a

positive trait or is it simply an irrelevant description of one's nature?

But we'll save the subject of me for another time.)

So the plush, elegant club chair with the 'memories' could not be

coming with me, there was simply not the space for it with all my

other living room furniture.

But there is another chair that was coming with me; not elegant or

plush or even comfortable. It was backless, armless and too low...

well, okay...it was a stool which had the advantage of being lightweight,

foldable and small enough to fit in the front or back of the car.

And of course was the place for me to put my rear end on when we all 

went to parades such as Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade and the Israel

Anniversary Day parade. The young ones didn't mind standing for hours,

but I was no longer able to, (which is a reminder that TIME is not always

your 'friend.')

Summers at the beach, while the rest of them sat or lay on a blanket I 

made sure to place myself somewhere that I could get up from! That

stool/chair went with me to 'concerts in the park' such as 'Peter, Paul 

and Mary' (with their unique sound that has never been matched!)

It laid flat in my suitcase when I was traveling and has been with me on

the banks of the Mississippi  River in New  Orleans. BTW, has anyone

ever been at that river and not feel compelled to sing that song...even 

if only to oneself? With me on the streets of San Francisco and that song.

So if I could talk to my stool/chair I would say;" You're small and plain

looking, not grand with a mahogany frame and  a brocade cushioned seat

and back. And no rich family history that goes back generations.

But you and I have made our own history all these years... and created

our own memories.

                                              THE END