Our decorating style was “Early Married Young 20-Somethings.” Our living room furniture and small dining table were hand-me-downs from Rob’s family circa Two Decades Prior. Our mattress and box-spring sat on the floor, no frame or headboard necessary (or available). Our nightstands were raw pressed-board cubes. Our bookcase was a Tinker Toy assembly of cinder blocks and faux wood planks. Our desk was a hollow-core door sitting on two mismatched filing cabinets.
We were pretty fancy.
About 6 years later, we were settled in our first house and our bedroom finally looked like grown-ups lived there. All the furniture was from a matched collection and was solid wood. We had a headboard and space under the bed. We even had decorative pillows!
Declaring the living room was next for our We’re Adults Now Make-Over, we went to our favorite furniture store and talked to our favorite furniture lady. She was getting to know us. She was about to get to know us better.
Rob and I picked out a couch and two chairs and decided we needed an end table and coffee table to complete the ensemble. Furniture Lady asked us what style of coffee table we wanted.
“Well, we like cherry wood. And it needs to be the right height to eat at.”
She looked at us quizzically. We explained that we almost always ate dinner at the coffee table in front of the TV.
“So you need it tall enough to eat at while sitting on the couch?”
Not quite. We were clearly some of her younger clients.
Minutes later, Furniture Lady watched with a smirk and a raised eyebrow as Rob and I darted around the showroom, plopping ourselves on the floor in front of every viable coffee table.
Sit on the couch to eat dinner?! It was waaaay more comfy and proximate to our spaghetti (me) and grilled cheese sandwiches (Rob) to sit on our living room floor and enjoy our dinner Japanese style. Chairs schmairs. We were young! And flexible!
And so it was for about 20 years. Yes, we eventually acquired proper dining furniture, including a substantial one for holiday and group meals. But more often than not, the most-used dining surface in our home…including Woodhaven…was our coffee table. The couch behind it provided great back support and the carpet was delightfully cushy. It was comfy and informal, much like us.
But then, well, something happened. Namely time.
After my knee surgery a couple of years ago, ambling on and off the floor became a little troublesome. I also discovered my legs no longer sit “Indian style” without requiring naproxen as dessert.
I was quietly dealing with the pain…as I do…but then one night I thought I heard an “Ooof!” from Rob as he was untangling his legs and using the coffee table and couch as supports to get himself upright.
“Is sitting on the floor still comfortable for you?” I asked with guilty hopefulness.
“Not really.”
Relieved, I quickly confessed I had been having a hard time with our floor dining for a while.
As thus began an extensive internet research project. And then a tour of the Portland metro’s array of fine and adequate furniture stores. And then a trailer hitch. And then an electric screwdriver.
For the past few nights, Rob and I have tested out our new fancy Lift-Top Coffee Table with pasta, hot dogs, and a family favorite called Hobo Stew (macaroni, hamburger, and Manwich sauce. It's even better with Tabasco.). The table has worked beautifully. The top is sturdy but lifts easily with a couple fingertips, barely wiggling our wine glasses. Yes, it is essentially an elegant TV tray but soooo much more convenient -- and less Early Married -- than the wobbly water-ring-stained trays we have stashed in the far depths of our coat closet.
Almost exactly (or maybe exactly?) 29 years ago, Rob offered me a ring and a hope to grow old together. And here we are, doing just that. One achy step and piece of furniture at a time.
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| I'm currently on a Mary Tyler Moore Show kick. Hey, at least it's not Gunsmoke or Bonanza. |
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