The time has come to say goodbye to an old family friend.
No, this isn’t a sad story about the death of an old acquaintance or even a beloved pet; this is a tale about shopping for furniture, particularly a sofa.
About a decade ago, just as my little family was beginning to grow, my wife and I purchased a living room suit from a furniture store in Atlanta. The set, a reclining sofa, matching love seat, two end tables and lamps were delivered to the house we once owned in our state’s capitol. Watching the delivery crew unbox and assemble the ensemble was my months old son.
The night before I had dragged our old sofa, a flowery number purchased second hand when I got married, to the curb. That couch had been all over the state furnishing several apartments and was on a desperate last leg. Still though, somebody claimed it and took it away before the county bulk trash collection team made its rounds. I like to think that disgusting piece of furniture, with its pink and red floral pattern is still being put to use somewhere, perhaps in a frat house front lawn.
The new sofa was an overstuffed number, with deep cushions and rich hunter green upholstery. It was like sitting on a cloud, compared to its tattered and torn counterpart. It was the first time I had brand new furniture and in the evenings my family would cozy up together in luxury.
Fast forward 10 years, countless naps, spills and a big move back to Laurens County, and the once pride of the living room is a pitiful shell of its former self. The couches have lost their firmness and the once wonderful shade of green has faded to a dull brown. The reclining function of the sofa does not work, the handles on both sides are broken.
On top of that there are stains and dirt that no amount of cleaning could possibly remove. The upholstery has a lingering odor that only comes from years of use and abuse. In short, it is past time to go furniture shopping.
Like all forms of commerce now, picking out a new living room seat is as easy as making a few clicks on the phone. In a matter of days, I could again be sitting like a king, perched in comfort in front of my television. Some online retailers even have AI functions that allow you to see the couch in your living space before purchasing. Of course, there is no way to test comfort without good old-fashioned shopping around.
I know I’m not supposed to get attached to material objects but letting go of the couch is easier said than done. There are a lot of memories tied up in that tired old sofa. My children have used it as a bed, a fort and trampoline. The family pets have abandoned dog beds and claimed cushions instead.
A new couch though, as silly as it sounds, means new memories and a new chapter of family life. Getting rid of the old couch is still something to consider. I don’t have a street curb anymore.
Where’s the closest frat house?
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