Grandpa's Chair

GRANDPA’S CHAIR One day as we visited Grandpa and saw him sitting there we thought it was probably the right time to buy him a new chair. He’s sat in that one forever…when he moves around…it creaks the cushions are uneven…and one arm rest is weak. The stitching barely holds together…not much if it remains and where Grandpa loves to lay his head…is permanently stained. It’s time for a new one, we all thought, and we were so excited knowing Grandpa was going to love it…knowing he would be delighted. But it didn’t go quite as we expected…I guess our thinking was a little out of whack because when he presented it to Grandpa…he said, “Thanks…but take it back.” Then Grandpa smiled at the lot of us…and after letting out a sigh sat back in his old chair and explained his reasons why. This is the chair I was sitting in when you all first came to visit me. This is where I held each one of you…where I bounced you on my knee. This is where we watched TV together…where I put you on my lap where after a day of playing whatever game you wanted…we’d sit down and take a nap. This is where I’ve sat each Christmas watching the magic taking place From here I’ve watched you all grow up…with a smile on my face From here I’ve smiled at your grandma…and wondered how she found a way as we have both grown older…to look more beautiful every day… Grandpa went on for a long time…(as Grandpa often would) and well before he finished…we all understood. So the next day we sat his new chair by the road with gentleness and care… FREE, the note read, with one condition… it must become a Grandpa chair.