I loved this one. You are so right about couches and the stories that become embedded in them along with the crumbs, the cat pee, the spit-up, etc. I've always loved the couch story my sister told years ago when she and her on-again, off-again love met in Portland, Maine just as he was about to ask another woman to move in with him. My sister and he had a nice lunch and then, to draw out the time before a difficult conversation my sister wasn't yet sure she wanted to have, they went sofa hunting for his new place. The one he picked: huge, orange and brown striped corduroy that would hide just about anything that spilled on it. My sister, who had not yet declared herself still in love with him, watched him pay for it and arrange for delivery. Then they went out for a drink and he faced her across the table. He put his beer glass on his right and his coaster on his left and said, "Okay if the beer is never in this lifetime and the coaster is tomorrow, how where are you in terms of committing this time?" She pointed to the spot about a millimeter away from the coaster. He brightened. "What would it take to move you from there to all the way?" Without missing a beat, she said "Lose the sofa." They went back to the store, explained everything, and, together picked out a giant beige sectional that we all left a story on at one point or another before it was finally retired 18 years later. They have just celebrated their 27th anniversary.
I laugh-spat on my phone when i read the crumbs and popcorn part. This was a wonderful read.
I loved this one. You are so right about couches and the stories that become embedded in them along with the crumbs, the cat pee, the spit-up, etc. I've always loved the couch story my sister told years ago when she and her on-again, off-again love met in Portland, Maine just as he was about to ask another woman to move in with him. My sister and he had a nice lunch and then, to draw out the time before a difficult conversation my sister wasn't yet sure she wanted to have, they went sofa hunting for his new place. The one he picked: huge, orange and brown striped corduroy that would hide just about anything that spilled on it. My sister, who had not yet declared herself still in love with him, watched him pay for it and arrange for delivery. Then they went out for a drink and he faced her across the table. He put his beer glass on his right and his coaster on his left and said, "Okay if the beer is never in this lifetime and the coaster is tomorrow, how where are you in terms of committing this time?" She pointed to the spot about a millimeter away from the coaster. He brightened. "What would it take to move you from there to all the way?" Without missing a beat, she said "Lose the sofa." They went back to the store, explained everything, and, together picked out a giant beige sectional that we all left a story on at one point or another before it was finally retired 18 years later. They have just celebrated their 27th anniversary.
Ya the back flap w the crumbs, big smile here but the brothers fighting on the couch is my fave. happened to be couching it right now :)