Think. Think. Think.
This is what authors go through as they face the dreaded Writer’s Block.
Objective: Come up with an idea — a compelling story to share with others. Grab their attention. Start gradually and then finish with a BANG! as you leave readers wanting more.
Yep, that’s the key to successful prose. Bonus points if readers click LIKE, SHARE and COMMENT. We writers love feedback in any way, shape or form. Heck, even the negative comments are welcome. “Bring ’em on,” I say!
So Why Am I Suddenly Writing About A Couch?
Today’s story is about a simple couch. Why a couch? you may ask. The answer is simple. I ran out of stories to share here.
In desperation, I reviewed old NOTES on my iPhone. There was a note to myself, written in 2023, that mentioned “pink couch from Rhonda.”
What can I possibly write about a couch? I thought to myself, more frustrated than ever before.
Here’s the Story…
It wasn’t part of my Master Life Plan… but suddenly – in May 2000 – I’d found myself in the midst of a divorce and without proper housing for myself and my six-year-old daughter. One year later, in May 2001, I purchased a home for the two of us. It was situated on a quiet residential street in the West Beverly Hills neighborhood.
A 900 square foot two-story home provided us with a main floor, two upstairs bedrooms and a bath, basement with laundry, a backyard with room for a garden, as well as a one-car garage.
The only thing missing from our home was furniture. And pots and pans. A shower curtain and bath towels was high on my list. Even the everyday items we all use but never give much thought: cutlery, dish soap, oven mitts and cleaning cloths. Yep, it would take a while before I accumulated the typical sundry items for our new abode.
That’s when my friends and family stepped in. My best buddy at work provided me with dish cloths and linens for the kitchen. (Thank you, Carrie!)
My parents donated a brass bed. Two Oriental rugs. And a black iron bench which I still covet and use to this day.
Then there was my cousin Rhonda and her husband Mark, who gladly gave me their second-hand pink velvet sofa. I recall Mark was a bit embarrassed about handing over a well-used couch.
There were a couple stains on it and the armrests were worn — the mark of a well-loved piece. But I still saw its charm and envisioned the piece sitting in my new living room. I was thrilled to receive it.
For one, the price was right (Free!). Plus, I had always admired the rose-hued sofa in Rhonda’s living room. The velvet material was cozy and comfy, while the lovely color was pleasant on the eyes. With its rolled arms and tufted back, one of my friends remarked that it could pass for the couch from the FRIENDS television show.
Everyone Has Sofa Memories They Can Share
Although I never gave that passed-down couch much thought over the next few years, I can now think back and recall fond memories when the sofa took center stage in the front room of our home.
It was a couch where my daughter and I watched The Blues Brothers movie over and over again.
It was the divan where a couple gentlemen callers sat… before I sent ’em packing.
It held multiple members of my family and friends, as we celebrated Christmas. Birthdays. Report cards with lots of A’s.
There were numerous happy times. Some somber moments. And a few sad endings.
All Good Things Come To An End
It finally came to the point where I had some extra dough and chose to purchase a new davenport and loveseat for my living room. Thus, it was Good-Bye to my Friends Couch… but Hello to my new ones from La-Z-Boy Furniture!
It was out with the old – literally – as my reluctant neighbor and I dragged the family couch out the back door, down the steps, across the grassy yard and finally into the back alley.
The next day was Garbage Day in my neighborhood, and I knew the fine workers at Chicago’s Streets and Sanitation would quickly pick up the couch and give it a proper disposal.
Except The Unexpected Happened
The next morning, I drove out of my garage and proceeded down the alley as I headed toward my commuter train. There I saw it — the pink FRIENDS couch — sitting outside and adjacent to the back entrance of a local bar.
Apparently, the folks at the bar liked the couch as much as I did. They must have come across it the previous evening and decided to salvage it for their own use. Therefore, it became part of their “outdoor patio,” if you will.
It was an area where the bar’s patrons gathered for a smoke. Typically, they used cast-aside folding chairs for their purposes. Except this dewy morning, my rose-colored velvet couch sat in the place of honor in the rear parking lot– among the gravel and Dumpsters.
Although it was a forlorn scene, the couch still seemed to hold its tufted arms high, as it sat among empty beer bottles and cigarette butts. That piece of furniture refused to be shut down.
All I could do was sigh and shake my head. Truthfully, I was happy they kept the fantastic tradition going on that beloved ol’ pink sofa. Plus, it added a bit of class to the back alley, so I kept my mouth shut and kept driving.
Cheers!
Thank you for reading – PIZZA FOR BREAKFAST
PIZZA FOR BREAKFAST 