BETTER THAN A GIRLFRIEND

This will will probably be my last blog posting for 2011. With year 2012 only a few hours away, I end this year, not with resolutions, but reflections of many years ago.

My memories of life are that I have always been somewhat of a "nester" when it comes to where I lived.  In my youth -- at least through the end of high school -- my family lived the majority of the time in only two places: Rochester, New York & then in Honeoye, New York.  Always in the same house in each town.  No moving.  "Nested". 

I went off to college & spent two years in Utica, New York.  I lived in an apartment & later in an on-campus dormitory.  I guess -- living in two places in two years -- would be my "non-nesting" phase.  It didn't stick.

In 1967 I ventured down to Memphis, Tennessee.  The main reason was to continue my education, but the secondary -- & also important reason -- was to keep my "deferment" from the then military draft.  There was the very unpopular Vietnam War on-going at the time & being in college kept me out of the hands of Uncle Sam.

Two moves later -- to apartments, along with a "wife" who was soon gone -- had me again "nesting" throughout my 29+ years in Tennessee. The apartment stretched for 11 years & the condo which followed, was 17 years. True "nesting".

Now I am 15+ years living in Arkansas.  It will officially be 16 years at this location come September, 2012.  Again, once I "move" ... I then stay put.  "Nested".

I was never a "job hopper" either.  I stayed with Maybelline for almost 34 years & another two & a half years with Caboodles Cosmetics. I like things to be familiar, comfortable & manageable.  My job & my home.

Since 1969 -- which is as best I can figure/remember -- one thing has followed me & been with me.  It's the large "desk" in my home office. [Actually it's not really a desk.  More like a library table.]  I bought it at a used office furniture store in downtown Memphis for $20.00.  It was money well spent.  I've certainly got my value out of it.

The desk is six foot long & almost three feet wide.  It has a good amount of surface space for all kinds of projects & writing, as well as a large area to share with cats & several hundred pens & markers.

I should note that I was once "forced" to give the desk away to a co-worker.  I was on the losing end of a relationship where my wife had better uses for "the space" the desk occupied in our apartment. Luckily for me, I got rid of the wife & the new owner of the desk, got rid of a husband.  I jumped at the chance to get the desk back. [See.  Good things do happen when couples split up. (I hope Katy Perry is reading this.  Call me !!)]

Somehow this one piece of furniture has been with me for the past 43 years.  Not too many other objects -- or even people (well ... maybe Weiner counts for "time served") -- have been with me all this time.  It's a bit strange to reflect on the fact, but to the credit of the desk, it has stood firm & fast & provided me daily support whenever I have needed it. I've been in relationships which didn't even come close to all those attributes.  The desk is BETTER than a girlfriend !!