Sentimentable

So I let go of an old friend today.

No, not a person, but a trusted companion through at least half-a-dozen moves, that I saw pretty much every day for almost 20 years.

I’m talking about my old table and chairs.

Bought for me by my parents in the summer of 1989 when I was in graduate school, so that I would have something to eat off of (other than the floor), because my ex-girlfriend departed with her table after we split up.  We got it in “The Home Furniture Capital of the World” – High Point, North Carolina – and its been with me ever since.

Feast

I wrote my PhD dissertation at that table.  Attempted to balance my empty check-book at that table.  It moved to Delaware and became the dinner table for Roomie and me.  Later, it became the breakfast table while I was with She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.  After fixing that situation, it went back to its original use – all-purpose flat surface.  Desk, dinner, computer stand and place to throw mail.

When we moved into The Aerie, the low table didn’t work so much in our breakfast area and we chose to replace it with something that we thought fit a little better.  We had a desk.  There just didn’t seem to be a good home for it in our home.  So, rather than have it in limbo in the garage, I made the choice to give it away.

Party Table

Fortunately, one of my very best friends needed a table and chairs and so today she came to get it.  I was a little sad to see it go -- its one of the last things that I have left that was a gift from my folks (my watch is the other).  It meant something though to give it to a friend and not just anonymously donate it, or God forbid, the scrap-heap – I hope it serves her for a couple of decades, too!