Kristian and I just got a “new” dining room table from his parents. I figured that I’d feel nothing but excitement about our shiny, new (to us, at least) piece of furniture. Our old table was nice, but it was too small for our dining room. It only sat eight people. Which would seem like a lot of people, but we hosted eighteen people for Christmas last year. I was really looking forward to owning a dining room table where we at least had a fighting chance of fitting everyone and I didn’t have to eat Christmas Dinner at our breakfast bar.
(Not like I’m still bitter about that or anything).
(Ok, maybe just a little bitter, but don’t tell anyone).
What I didn’t realize was how emotionally attached I’d become to our old table.
Our old table was the first piece of furniture that Kristian and I bought as a couple. When we combined all of our stuff together, the one thing we were missing was a dining room set. So we called about an ad on Craigslist and we ended up meeting three very nice girls who were also in the process of moving and were desperate to get rid of all of their remaining furniture. We stood and watched them negotiate the price down with no input from us. They kept dropping $50 at a time from the price. When they had talked themselves down far enough, we agreed to take their table.
Never before, and never again, have I had such a successful negotiation.
Mostly because I am a crap negotiator, but I’m still calling that one a win.
Not only was the table our first piece of furniture that was truly “ours,” it was also the first item that we moved into our first apartment. Those friendly girls were kind enough to deliver it for us.
I’m not entirely sure why I’m waxing nostalgic for a hunk of wood, but I guess it amazes me that Kristian and I have been together long enough to have gone through sturdy furniture. We’ve been together for over six years, living together for five, married for three months (more stable than a Kardashian marriage, what what?). Holy crap, guys! We’re an old married couple!
We gave that table to my friend Nancy. I’m just glad that we’re going to be able to visit every once in a while
I’m not usually nostalgic, and I love our new place, but there is a part of me that still misses our old, much smaller condo, a bit. It was our first home together, and we lived there for most of our marriage. It’s great being in our new place, but sometimes, I miss it.
Merry Christmas to you, Kristian and Gracie and may there be many, many more Christmasses for you to come to love your new table even more than the old one.
XO,
Mel
That’s pretty much exactly how I feel about our old table!
Merry Christmas to you, Pete and Fay!