Recliner moments

Recliner moments

My family will tell everyone that I hate recliners.  I think they are bulky, huge and ugly things that represent the lazy life.  I also realize that 99% of men love recliners and would live in them.  I have had to eat my words about recliners these past six years.  It all started about 11-12 years ago in another town.  I had just returned home from visiting one of my daughters still in college.  I still had three daughters living at home.  I came home to a nice home cooked meal and a happy family.  We were eating dinner when Tiffany mentioned that her dad had bought me a surprise.  Now, I was apprehensive because Jeff and I don't always like the same style or kinds of things.  She said it was furniture.  Well, that didn't go over with me.  Jeff is not allowed to buy furniture without me, period.  He has tried it before and I have to say failed at it.  My husband just nodded his head in agreement.  The Tiffany went on to say that he bought a recliner, red leather.  That was it, recliner and leather.  My two most hated combinations.  The red, well I love red.  Jeff just nodded.  I exploded.  How could he do this to me and the house.  What was he thinking?  He just said he bought a surprise and we were to go pick it up the next day.  The family went to watch TV and I pouted in the other room on the couch.  Finally Jeff appeared and said "are you still mad?"  Well, yes I was.  We left it at that and I couldn't sleep thinking of how I was going to get rid of the red leather recliner.

The next day I was still mad, but rode to the furniture store with Jeff.  We walked in and I really didn't see any red recliners.  It turned out Jeff had bought a very nice sofa table to go with my end tables.  The joke was on mom and mom was very relieved. My family has laughed at this often.  They think it is the best joke they ever played on me.  However, fast-forward to now.  Some things come with age.  You learn that there are somethings that are not worth worry, fighting and getting so upset about.  You compromise.  I used to think this meant you lowered your standards.  It just means you care about others more than yourself.  Now, I still don't like recliners or leather but I have compromised and big time.  We just purchased two dark red, leather recliners to sit in front of our fireplace.  There are also two large, dark red, leather couches that have recliners in them in the family room and two wing back (they don't look like a normal recliner) chairs that recline.  Have I lowered my standards, I don't think so.  Did I compromise?  Absolutely.  I did it to make it a little more comfy for my husband, family and I have to say --- me.  If you need me, I will be sitting in front of the fireplace in a big, red leather recliner reading a book.