Saturday Revue

 Is it really Saturday?  What happened To Friday?  I totally meant to post something yesterday, but like I mentioned in a previous post, the week seemed to be filled with delays, and yesterday was one of them. What I had hoped to write about earlier in the day never happened until too late in the day to sit down and concentrate and write, so it had to be delayed until today, and now it's getting late in this day too! LOL.

I've had chairs on my mind this week...and while thinking about chairs, this picture came to my mind,  as illustrated by Mary Englebreit for her book "Life is Just a Chair of Bowlies"...

Internet Photo...by Mary Engelbreit

I was going to attempt to explain it, but Google AI had the answers already there for us:

"People also ask:
What is the meaning of chair of bowlies?
AI Overview:

"The phrase "chair of bowlies" is a playful misinterpretation of the idiom "life is just a bowl of cherries." It suggests that life is filled with easy, pleasant experiences, like being served food in a bowl, implying comfort and ease. It's often used in a humorous or slightly sarcastic way to contrast with the reality that life can be challenging and not always easy."

Hubby being served pie, not in a bowl, but on a paper plate, on Father's Day, while sitting in his favorite chair.

Talking about life being full of challenges, and not just like a bowl of cherries (by the way, that was blueberry pie, not cherry), this past Sunday hubby was having a bad day physically and even though we went to church, he needed help getting out to the car and into the house afterwards.  The kids were all here for lunch, and although he went straight to bed, he got up a while later and ate something and sat in his chair.  The problem is, he was having difficulty getting up and down out of his chair, which is an extra large recliner.  I don't know how many years he has had this chair, but more than ten I am pretty sure.  So, the kids started talking about maybe he needed a new chair, one that lifts.  I started looking them up and trying to find an extra large chair that lifts, etc., but hubby said that he really didn't want a new chair. He thinks his old chair is just fine. And he definitely doesn't think he's ready for a "lift chair".   And yes, even though the doctor appointment this past week and review of his lab tests didn't show any major issues, nonetheless, he still has some issues that need to be figured out. It didn't help that he told the doctor that he "felt just fine" while we were there, so the doctor didn't see any need to refer him to anyone else...but since then he hasn't felt "just fine", and we may be going back to discuss things next week.

But in the meantime, while looking at the recliners online, I mentioned that my old chair is getting rather worn out and that it is causing me a lot of back issues because the seat is sinking and the chair just doesn't properly support my arthritic back anymore.

You've seen this picture before in a previous post about where I like to sit and read:

Yes, on the surface it still looks pretty good, but internally it is breaking down and if you could see me when I try to get up and stand up after sitting for about a half hour or so, you'd think something was really wrong.  I started calculating how long we've had that chair, and to the best of my recollections, we bought it USED around 15 years ago. It was in pretty good shape then, but that was then, and this is now, and lately I've had to add a stiffer seat cushion under me as well as a back cushion. 

So, after further discussion, it was determined that I should look for a chair for me instead! Okay, that sounded like a good plan!  Rather than shopping in various furniture stores (where the prices are usually a bit higher), I started searching online. My sweet dil Rose, who works at Home Depot, said that you can actually order recliners through Home Depot online, and they will deliver them to your house! (Free delivery too!)  So my search began...and for the record, I was also looking for an extra large chair for hubby too, but the more I looked, the more I realized he really needs to go sit in a chair and make sure it fits him. He is tall and has a large frame, and the chairs I was seeing just didn't look like they were going to fit him even though they claimed to be "oversized".  

However, I did finally narrow it down to one chair for me that was on sale at a very good price, and it even has lumbar heat and massage up and down the back!  Now that's something I would love! So after hem-hawing around and checking every option, I finally took the plunge and ordered the chair for me. They said it would be delivered on Thursday, which was fine, because originally hubby's Dr. appointment was scheduled for Wednesday, so we didn't have any other commitments on Thursday. Then the doctor's office called and said they had to postpone his appointment until Thursday...so...we called our son asked him if he could stay at the house while we went to the doctor in case the chair was delivered...which he said he would.  THEN, the Home Depot delivery people sent us a text saying that the delivery was being delayed and wouldn't come until FRIDAY! So, good, that meant that Benton wouldn't have to come wait for it because we would be here on Friday!

Friday came, and the tracking for the delivery said the chair was on it's way. Of course, they didn't say what time they would arrive, so of course we were tied down to the house all day waiting.  Finally at about 3:30 p.m. we heard a door slam outside and rushed to the door to welcome the delivery people, however, they were actually getting back IN the truck and driving away!  I started waving my arms at them to come back, and then I noticed that they had placed the chair (in a very heavy, large square box) on the ground at the foot of the steps to our porch! What??? They call that "delivery???"   I couldn't believe my eyes!

Thankfully, our son lives pretty close by, and so I called him and told him what had happened, and he came right over and managed to get the heavy, awkward box up the steps and onto the porch.  However, it would not fit through the front door.  So we had to open the box on the porch and take the chair out, which was in sections, and bring it inside and figure out how to put it all together!  There's NO WAY hubby and I could've done that by ourselves! It was a major job, and we are SO thankful for our strong young son who was available and able to figure it out (although it did take some doing, for sure!), and finally the chair was in place and ready for me to try it out:

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Ahhhhh.....

Let me tell you, that massage and heat sure felt good!

Now, let me say that I am very thankful for this chair already. Last night I sat in it and read my book for over an hour without getting up. I used the massager for a few minutes before getting up, and when I stood up, I had absolutely no problem standing up straight and walking! I practically jumped for joy! I've not been able to do that for a LONG time!!! So, was it worth all the hassle and delays and craziness? Yes, it was.    

But a few words of wisdom...if you are going to order a chair online and have it "delivered" to your house, make sure you have someone strong and smart who can help you get it inside and set it up.  I think we could've paid extra to have someone do that, but it never occurred to us that they wouldn't even bring it up the 5 steps to our porch and at least knock on the door to let us know they were there!  

And btw, my old chair is going to be donated to our church thrift shop. Maybe someone can get some more use out of it, or they may know how to make the necessary repairs to tighten up the seat and make it last another 15 years.  I hope so. 

Furthermore, I am still on the lookout for a new chair for hubby, but I've convinced him that he really needs to go to a store and try them out first. And then we will let them deliver it and set it up for us, even if we have to pay for it to be done, it's worth it.

Psalm 16:5-6, 11

5 "O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup;

You maintain my lot.

6 The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;

Yes, I have a good inheritance.

11 You will show me the path of life;

In Your presence is fullness of joy;

At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

The End.

(Thank you to Mary Englebreit for her brilliant inspiration!)