Loveseat Recliner

Remorse-is Memory-awake-
Her Parties all astir-
A Presence of Departed Acts-
At window-and at Door-
-- Emily Dickinson

Wednesday, January 10, 2001
One year ago: List Items
Two years ago: The Thin Red Line

I was at work a bit early this morning (earlier even than I normally get there which is around seven am) because I was only going to work a half day. I'd finally gotten the word -- my loveseat would be delivered sometime between eleven am and three pm.

I'd managed to get a good deal done in my living room over the past few evenings, so I was sure they could get the loveseat in. I was slightly concerned about the space between the dining table and some boxes of books, though.

I left work at ten thirty and pulled up in front of my building with five minutes to spare. Good parking karma meant there was a space right in front of the door. But what was this? A huge large moving truck turned the corner from the cross street to my street, and just stopped in the traffic and turned on their hazard lights. The driver climbed down and started walking to my building's front door.

"Sears Home Life?" I asked. He glanced at me, but I don't think he realized what I was saying. I repeated myself, adding "Are you delivering a loveseat?" Finally it sunk in for him that I was the client he was looking for.

"Good thing I was on time. But aren't you early?" He claimed at first that I was scheduled for a ten o'clock time slot, then checked his list and admitted I was correct about eleven o'clock. No matter, I was here now.

We propped the door open, and I brought them in and pointed to where the chair should go. "No problem!" he cried. They were pleased I was on the first floor, and right by the building entrance. We shifted a few items, then they walked out and brought the recliner in and dropped it down. They lifted it over the tight spot I'd been worried about with no trouble at all.

*     *     *     *     *    *

I signed the form and off they went. Wow! This thing was a bit bigger than I'd pictured it, though it fit the space allotted with room to spare. I took the plastic off the throw pillows, then reclined myself for a few minutes. The release handle doesn't seem to work easily yet; I guess it needs to break itself in. But if I get down and knee in front of the recliner and tug, while opening the release catch, I can make it recline. The color is a neutral grey-beige, with some texture to it so I hope it won't show the dirt. Now I need to get new cushions for my rattan couch and chair, because they've got wires sticking out, and are just generally worn out.

I could have gone back to work, but decided to work on decluttering and such instead. I've made good progress on my rubber stamps, putting them in those small wooden drawers that I got at Costco.

I even went through a box that's been a sore spot, something I was ashamed of, and dealt with it! I'd been sent a round robin box of stamping supplies in the early nineties, and I never sent it on! So I went through it and dealt with the contents, and thought apologies to those women that I'd let down. I doubt many are at the same addresses after all this time. At least it's finished now, and that box isn't sitting among my rubber stamp and mail art stuff, accusing me.

*     *     *     *     *    *

I stayed home this evening and watched Ken Burns' Jazz. I'm really enjoying it! He's put a lot of emphasis on Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington in this episode covering the mid twenties. I really hadn't realized how seminal and creative Armstrong was, though I did enjoy his presence in some movies of the early thirties.