Turning Tables

This is a story about a table, yes, a table- the one you see my grandchildren using for their chess game in the picture above. It is a beautiful solid wood table of the kind you don’t see much any more and that you certainly wouldn’t find at IKEA. It first belonged to our parents and after their passing now belongs to me. Before you start wondering what more one can say about a table, the real story here is about what that table represents and the memories that are attached to it.

We Bought A House

After many years with his company, dad received a promotion which involved a move from Alberta to British Columbia. After the requisite hunt for a place to live they found a beautiful spot with an ocean view and turned their thoughts to furnishing their new home. In short order, beds and curtains and tables and lamps were purchased, with this table finding a home in the formal living room.

Our parents were of the generation that was taught to buy the best you could afford and always take pride in looking after your things so that they would last. And as far as the looking after things concept was concerned, our parents were very conscientious, with dad taking it to a whole other level. The table was dusted with Pledge faithfully every week by mom until it shone and, on those special occasions when the living room was used, dad was right there to put a coaster on the table before you even had a chance to set your drink down. And even the hint of a scratch would have him bringing out the wood repair crayons.

Here Come The Grandkids

When mom and dad moved into their new house Little Sis was the only child still living at home and as she was a teenager with little interest in hanging out in the formal living room with our parents, the table and all the other furniture was maintained in pretty much pristine condition. Not a scratch or a dent to be seen anywhere and it stayed that way for many years.

And then came the grandchildren. Not to imply in any way that grandchildren misbehaved or were disrespectful of mom and dad’s possessions, but I think our dad took it as a personal challenge to maintain that pristine condition while accommodating the sticky fingers and curious hands of young grandchildren and later on great grandchildren.

Through all these years under dad’s watchful eye, the table survived and was still in mint condition when, after mom and dad’s passing, it came to be mine.

Moving On

At first I wasn’t sure that the table would fit in our house as we don’t really have a formal living room. But, the thought of it going to someone who wouldn’t appreciate the table as much as our parents had, and all the memories of family times that were wrapped up in it, convinced me I had to take it.

The table has been at our house now for over ten years and suffice to say I am not as conscientious as dad was in making sure that coasters always go under glasses and taking care to avoid dings and scratches. This makes me feel somewhat guilty when I think about all the care and attention that our parents gave to keep the table in good condition, but I know they would be happy that we have continued to make memories around it with our kids and grandkids, even if it now has a “lived in” look.

Everything Old Is New Again

Not being very handy with those scratch repair crayons, recently I decided that the best way to continue the legacy of the table and the care and attention that our parents gave it over the years, would be to give it new life by refinishing it. To fit in with our more casual vibe, I decided to update the finish and so under dad’s watchful eye from above, I stripped and sanded and painted and sanded some more. After several days of hard work, I was astonished at how different the table looks, and I do think dad would give me a thumbs up for the job I did. (Just don’t look at the underside of the table.😂) Full disclosure – the table top is not yet completely finished as my husband and I are having a “discussion” about whether to leave the wood natural or to stain it. Hopefully this impasse will be resolved soon…

And so the table has lived to see another day. Even though it doesn’t look anything like it did in its original form, the memories that surround it are still there with many more new ones to come. And dad, I promise I will start to use coasters.

We will be doing a new blog post every Monday so stay tuned for our next one entitled “Life With HAS.”