A Chair for George

“George, we really need to get you a chair – a really comfortable one that’ll be reserved just for you. Having a chair all your own is a man thing and you deserve one.”

I had said this many times before, but this time he agreed and off we went furniture shopping. We had also decided to shop for a new sofa to go into the family room as well. Although we had bought a new sofa just a few months ago, I never really liked it once we got it home. Luckily, my son thought it was perfect for his house, so wanted to buy it from us.

I knew I had to be very discerning this time around because no way could I end up with another sofa that wasn’t what I wanted. There were so many sofas to choose from…so many colors, fabrics, structures and designs. This would be more difficult than I had anticipated.

We found the perfect chair for George almost immediately, a beautiful Mission style recliner in a muted shade of burgundy. George sat down and found it very comfortable. Although I saw no reason for me to try it on, he was insistent and I had to agree that it would be a most pleasant spot for him to watch a ballgame or a good movie, read a book or catch a quick nap – all that and it didn’t have that recliner look. We were sold!

Our sofa shopping was a bit more difficult – either the design was wrong or the fabric wasn’t right and that design didn’t come in the fabric I wanted, etc. Finally, after several trips we were able to agree on one that would fit the space, went well with George’s new chair, and was pleasantly cushy and soft to sink into.

The delivery date arrived and I rearranged the family room around the new furniture. All of George’s magazines, his foot massager, and his golf and travel books were arranged within reaching distance of his chair and his reading light placed just so.

I placed a large basket beside the end of the sofa with all my favorite magazines and catalogs. A couple of my books on the coffee table, a nice reading lamp, a sweet smelling candle and an incense burner defined my area.

I smiled as I looked over at George reclining in his chair later that evening. He looked comfortable indeed – it was high time we had done this. I reclined on the new sofa and watched TV out of one eye and glanced through magazines with the other.

After a few days I went on another shopping trip…this time, for throw pillows. The new sofa was so soft that it really didn’t give me the support I needed for my lower back, which I have to pamper a bit. Some nice firm pillows to tuck behind me would do the trick.

The pillows did help, but then I found that I really was too low in the sofa and it was awkward to use the armrest or sit my wine glass on the end table. Well, I’d just have to sit on one of the throw pillows and that would give the height I needed to reach the end table and use the armrest.

Have you ever sat on a pillow placed on a very soft sofa? You are constantly rearranging it and your body – there is just no way to get comfortable. Trying out a sofa in the furniture store for a few minutes and reposing on one while watching a movie are definitely not the same thing. Oh no.

After a week or so of listening to my muffled complaints about my back, the pillows sliding and spilling my wine, George graciously offered to let me sit in his chair, and pointed out that he doesn’t have any back problems and he’s taller than me, so he wouldn’t need to sit on a pillow.

“Absolutely not – I’d feel way too guilty. Finally, after all these years we get you a chair and I’m certainly not going to take it away from you.”

“No, really just try it to see if it helps your back. I think the sofa is really comfortable…I enjoy sitting on it. Just try the chair.”

I waited a couple of weeks before rearranging things again, but George finally returned home one evening to find all the reading material switched and his foot massager perched at the end of the sofa. He never said a word.

The other night we were watching ED when I looked over at him and with a perfectly straight face, I said:

“George, we really need to get you a chair.”