The Bench
12/11/2020 Update: The Bench has Been Moved once Again!
It took me 6 weeks to move Luna’s bed out of our bedroom, not really sure why it took me so long but I just didn’t want to rush it I suppose. Once you remove it there is really no going back, the reality I knew would be another break of my heart but I realized I had to do it.
There was no way I could leave that space empty, I feel empty enough and that just wasn’t an option. I looked at The Bench that was now at the foot of the bed that had helped Luna to get onto the bed. I moved The Bench to the space where Luna’s bed had been, added some pretty pillows and for the first time in weeks I felt some relief from my grief.
Who knows how long it will stay there but for now it is the perfect place for it. I no longer look at an unoccupied dog bed with some blankets and I begin to think of a great memories of Luna with a smile.
As I said before, The Bench represents moving on even though sometimes you just want to keep things the same. I think it’s good to make things a little different after a shift in your household. It gives new perspective and keeps you looking at the dashboard instead of the rear view mirror.
The Bench
This bench might seem plain, ordinary, a no big deal kind of a bench.
Let me tell ya, this bench has been around the block, so to speak. At least in my two different homes.
We bought this bench in a quaint store in Starkville Mississippi, where we lived for three and a half years. We had also bought this super cool kitchen table that had been made from boats.
When we first bought the table we didn’t purchase chairs to go with it. I felt they were overpriced and wanted to think about it after we got the table into our house.
There was a bench at the quaint store which, by the way, closed after focusing more on baby clothes than the fabulous one of a kind furniture they sold. Anyway, this bench spoke to me. It just seemed to be perfect for one side of the table. Plus, I thought it would be kind of romantic that Rick and I would sit on a cozy bench eating dinner instead of rock hard chairs. I was really looking forward to sitting on this bench while having dinner!
We sat on The Bench together every night and had dinner. We looked out onto the lake… it was so pretty and serene eating dinner on this super comfy bench. I would comment frequently about how great this bench was.
The Bench Gets Benched
As time went on, my enthusiasm about the bench became less and less. The problem with The Bench was that every time you would get up from the table, both people would pretty much have to get up, which made it quite inconvenient. Often times I would knock my knee on the fabulous wood table trying to maneuver off of The Bench to avoid asking Rick to partially move off the edge.
I could have kicked myself for not buying the chairs that actually went with the table. They would have been the right color and the right height. They would have been perfect.
The Bench, Reimagined
One day I sadly realized that it was becoming more and more difficult for Gibby to jump on the bed. Let’s be clear, the dogs really aren’t allowed on the bed (unless Rick is not home, then it’s game on). The light went on and I thought, The Bench would be perfect at the foot of the bed and I bet Gibby would be able to conquer it in order to get to his final destination.
Yes! The Bench had a new home and it really did look splendid in our bedroom, I had always wanted a bench like this at the foot of the bed! Who knew?!
I felt so good about all of this because my purchase of The Bench was not a throw away at all! What a relief to find the spot where The Bench should have been in the first place.
New Home
In April of 2018, we moved to our home in Rockwall, Texas. We were so excited to be in our new home! And of course, as we were getting all settle in, The Bench went right where it belonged, at the foot of the bed in the Master Bedroom.
Not long after our move, I began to notice that Gibby was in need of other options for slumber. He was a senior now and things weren’t as easy as they used to be. Both Luna and Gibson required their own love seats and I had to add an orthopedic bed to the floor of the bedroom. You know how it goes, if I bought him one, I had to buy “her” one too.
As you can imagine, one king size bed, two dressers, two night stands, and two doggy beds made it a little crowded (even for a nice sized master bedroom) but we forged on.
I guess you kind of know where this is going, right?
That day came and sadly we didn’t need the bench in the bedroom any longer. I realized that without the bench and one less dog bed, the master bedroom would be less cluttered and more functional. The Bench got moved to the Family Room.
This Bench has lived many lives. As for now, you’ll have to use your imagination because I’m not moving The Bench again just for this particular blog. Anyway, I didn’t like it there so The Bench got moved, yet again.
As it turns out, the Bench has reached it’s final destination.
My husband started moving furniture around for my Beautycounter & Wine gigs. He was setting up drums, guitars and a few other things to have a little jam session during my party. After the party, while he was putting his musical instruments and equipment away, he had moved the couch to a different spot and The Bench was moved, I’m pretty sure for the last time.
When you look at The Bench, you may just see a piece of furniture with some pretty pillows on it. I see something much different. I see a Beautiful Bench that fit the situations it was put in. I see The Bench as a tool that helped my elderly dog not be left out so he could get on the bed. I see The Bench that still has a place in our home. Looking at it makes me smile and sometimes brings a tear to my eye.
The Bench also represents moving on even though sometimes you just want to keep things the same. I think it’s good to make things a little different after a shift in your household. It gives new perspective and keeps you looking at the dashboard instead of the rear view mirror.
