Time to Put Your Feet Up

Time To Put My Feet Up

My mom had a recliner-blue upholstery with yellow flecks. She would sit in her den looking out the window at the creek and remark on the wildlife, the color and movement of the seagrass and occasionally whatever word popped up on ‘Wheel of Fortune’. I loved my mom and I also loved her recliner. It sure was nothing fancy but whenever I had a chance to sit in it and put my feet up it was like a minivacation from life-a break from the pull of gravity that holds us so firmly down to earth.

I visit my sister’s house. In her living room there are two sizable recliners facing a large TV. My sister isn’t sitting in one-she is with her two dogs on the couch and running back and forth to the kitchen. It is rare that there isn’t a ball game on or a show looking for Big Foot. My brother-in-law is sitting in one of those recliners- taking a break from life-enjoying the game and an icy drink in a Tervis Tumbler. Feet in the air-worries left back in the work truck parked in the driveway. Once again defying gravity.

My friend Rita had two recliners in her living room. It was there that she would watch the news and the Hallmark Channel, golf matches and her favorite shows at night. One of those recliners must have belonged to her late husband but each time I visited we would sit there and talk about life-with our feet up as our worries slipped away. It felt like heaven. I could have stayed there forever.

I once visited a neighbor’s house-off of the kitchen there was a small room with two recliners in front of a large TV. “That’s where we sit to watch the news” my neighbor remarked. It was a cozy alcove meant for sharing life- feet up, worries left behind.

All of my life I have wanted a recliner. I wanted a place to put my feet up and leave my worries behind. I swear to myself that if I had a recliner I would read more-my back would be free of pain and I would be able to escape the burdens of the world. The problem has been that I don’t have the right space for one-all of the possible nooks and crannies of the house are filled. I try putting my feet up on the sectional but it’s not quite the same. I still feel the gravity, I get stuck in the world’s worries. I see they make couches with recliners and even beach chairs with recliners- everybody’s looking to put their feet up – maybe we all need an escape.

Perhaps if we ALL had recliners-there would be fewer worries in the world-less strife -less conflict-less friction. With our feet lifted comfortably - slightly above our heads - we might be able to think more clearly and help solve some of the world’s problems. It could possibly be the answer to a worrisome world. I think I’ll move some furniture around and maybe take a ride to ‘Lazy Boy’ or maybe just ‘Home Goods’. I think it’s high time I get a recliner.