When I was growing up with my parents we had what most people would call a normal living room. It had a TV, a bookcase with knick-knacks, a recliner (for my dad), a few chairs and a couch. It wasn't a designer showroom. There was a lot of wear and tear on that house. We really lived there! But it was comfortable.
After all of the kids moved out, the living room started to drift... A desk was added so my dad could play computer games. One large bookcase got traded out for two smaller bookcases. The knick-knacks got switched out for a lot more family photos of grandkids and grandpets.
Then came the most jarring change of all. The couch left. Not really a huge deal, it had been there a long time and the colors of the room had evolved and the gold couch didn't really go with it anymore. The weird part is, a new couch didn't arrive in it's place. Two chairs arrived instead.
I came home to visit one weekend and there is was, a vast room ringed with chairs.
What happened to the couch?
I gave it away.
Why'd you give it away?
I didn't like it. It was old and ugly.
And someone else wanted it?
It wasn't a bad couch. I just didn't like it anymore.
When are you getting a new one?
I'm not.
Why not?
I don't like couches. I think they're hard to sit down in and get out of.
Then don't sit down on it.
Don't be a smart ass.
You don't even sit in that room. You only sit in your office or the dining room. You don't even watch TV.
I can still see it from the dining room.
And the mere thought of a couch in your living room makes you angry?
I don't care about the living room. The living room is your father's room.
Then why'd you take away his couch?
Just leave me alone!
It wasn't the prettiest couch, but three out of four children fit on it at Christmas.So when I go home to visit my parents, there is no where to relax. One time I was so tired I just wanted to watch TV and lie down. I had to lay on the floor. My mom won't give in. I told here I was going to go buy her a couch and just have it delivered. She yelled at me and told me she would refuse it at the door. Apparently, I'm a pill.
No one wants to be told they are "just like their parents." we all want to be our own unique self. With all the upheaval in the back of our house, we've had to move things around. The chaise lounge from the guest room moved out to make way for our dresser. The chairs in the living room moved to the dining room to make room for furniture from the master bedroom.
A few days ago I took a look at my living room and realized, there are no chairs. But there are FIVE COUCHES. It looks like a hotel lobby.
In my own defense, once the bedroom is completed, the extra seating will return to it's proper place. We will once again, have one couch with a chaise lounge sectional attached, one loveseat and two chairs in the living room. On the other hand, my mother will still have just six chairs.
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