This Old Chair

I think I’ve had this old chair in my garage for maybe 25 years. The bottom was sprung, the upholstery dirty and torn, spider webs gathering on the bottom but it has the cutest claw feet and arms- $10. at a garage sale a million years ago. What a buy, kinda.
It sat sad, unused, unloved and neglected for so many years that I stopped really seeing it. Just part of the clutter in my garage. Occasionally I’ve wiped it off and thought about what I might recover it with but more than a few times I’ve thought I would break it up and toss it in the trash. I mean, $10! Who would even care or blame me for tossing it out?
A few weeks ago I actually cleaned out my garage- all that stuff that accumulates when you just set it down, it doesn’t have a place, tools I’m not sure how to use or what to do with, things that beg the question “where did this come from?”
I did find that box of black trash bags I bought and lost in the mess.
And there sat the old chair accusingly waiting for a decision to be made. “Come on”, it said So I said “what the heck!” and ordered some cute upholstery material from Amazon. Yes, it’s true, almost anything can be bought on Amazon! 2 days later the material arrived. (The miracle of this crazy world, 2 day shipping) and I loaded it and the dirty old chair in the back of my car to go to the upholsterer.
I think I heard it sigh “finally!”
Truthfully I had very few hopes for the results having looked at the old thing for so long.
Then I forgot about it. Busyness, work, life…
When Fred called to say it was ready I was actually surprised.
Fred’s shop door is a Dutch door and the top is open so customers can peak in but it’s locked as he is in the back but just barely visible is a chair arm with my fabric on it. Hmmm… looks pretty good from here but still expectations are low. Fred lets me in and guides me to my chair. What I see is truly beautiful!
Oh my gosh, could this be the same chair?
I think I actually see it straighten up and breathe a big sigh and say “see! I was just waiting for this all this time!”
Many people don’t care about antiques or people’s parents old things. IKEA is easier, quicker, assembly in a few hours and violà! Instant apartment furnishings but I am happy for the old chair that now sits by my front door proudly greeting guests.

I’m not sure if this is a metaphor for something bigger or simply a story about an old chair but I’m pretty sure it says something about starting over and letting things see what they can be and maybe being surprised by the results?
Let me know what you think!
We’ll talk more later,
Gayle