The decline of the recline(r)

When we first met, TMS was recently divorced and living back at home with Mom & Dad. Although he got up and went to work each day, he didn't have a very dependable job. Looking back, it seems like there was not much in his favor. While some girls would have cut and run, I stuck with it. I saw in him a kind, loving and devoted person. He treated his parents with a respect rarely seen. They were his closest pals. In most cases, it bothers me when parents are also "friends" but in this case, it was really true. TMS and his father shared a bond that very few people are lucky enough to have. Looking back, I took a leap of faith in him. I swear by God's guiding hand. We were meant to be together. I also thank God that he stuck with me and all my flaws.

At age 30, I bought my own place. TMS wasted no time setting up shop there. We never officially acknowledged living together but it was understood. I guess the Catholic motto is "don't ask, don't tell" as well as the armed forces.

The first piece of furniture we purchased together was a recliner. Yes, a recliner. Gasp! In those days, I HATED recliners. TMS insisted on one. This digging our heels in should have been a warning sign of the lifetime of strong-mindedness that was to come. We compromised. I would allow a recliner but I had final say on which one we chose. I chose the least recliner-looking one. No big puffy back and arms, no velour, no side arms that flip up revealing hidden compartments. Nosirree. I bought one that was nice looking. Well, maybe not really nice looking, but it was just about the plainest recliner one could find in those days.

We set it up in our new condo. After a few months, you could barely see it through all the wedding gift boxes it held.

In an old photo, the recliner is in the background surrounded by moving boxes and our new puppy, Zoe.

The recliner moved with us to our first house. It became the prime lounging spot and I have a vivid memory of TMS lying there with our newborn son sleeping on his chest. Eventually, though, it was relegated to our basement.

Only once was the recliner moved upstairs and that was a couple years later to help me comfortably nurse our brand new baby. After a while, back down it went.

In the years since then, it's become our boys favorite place to sit and watch tv. They sit wedged in, side by side, looking at books or game boy or whatever. Each and every time I see them that way, it makes me smile. When they are alone in the recliner, they sit in it sideways, their head on one arm rest, their feet dangling over the edge of the other.

Over time, our recliner has been through 29 birthday parties, 11 Easter celebrations, 10 Thanksgivings, two baptisms, one communion celebration, an 80th birthday party, 2 dogs and more. It's looks are long gone. It is thread-bare and stained. It leans to one side. TMS and I finally looked at each other and said "Let's put this out at the curb on Tuesday."

I pulled out of our driveway just in time to see the garbage man load it into the dumpster portion of the truck. It made me sad. I had grown to like the recliner not just the for its comfort value, but all the memories it held.