Not long after my grandad passed away, my grandma had a stroke and could no longer live on her own. Once she was well enough to go ‘home’, my dad decided she would move in with us – my mom, dad, three sisters, and I. For me, a young girl in her teens who always enjoyed sleepovers at grandma’s house, it was a welcome addition. What a gift to have another generation added to the day-to-day interactions of the family. Sure there were responsibilities tied to having grandma there, particularly with her now physical limitations, but for me it meant I no longer had to ride in a car for 30+ minutes to visit. I only needed to go to her side of the house for that precious time together. Our visits consisted mostly of watching television together, playing cards, or just chatting endlessly about pretty much anything (or likely nothing at all). I have so many memories from that time.

During this time grandma relied on us to do almost anything. She was a strong independent and somewhat stubborn New Yorker, who became increasingly frustrated when she had to ask for help. There were few things she could still do on her own. When we found those things she could do on her own, we embraced them as much as she did. We discovered that she could get in and out of this chair on her own, which to many may seem little, but to her and us it was BIG. She spent many of our visits sitting in this chair because it made her feel strong and independent, even if for a little while. When she passed a few years later, and I moved out on my own, I was lucky enough to take this chair with me. It has moved with me multiple times, and sat in my homes for many, many, many years (I’m guessing at least 30) in a very rough condition. I’ve always wanted to restore it, but I’ve always been scared to try in fear that I’d mess it up.

I’ve recently adopted a belief that fear should not stop us from doing things that we really want to do, because it is in facing our fears that we gain strength and learn some of life’s most valuable lessons. Restoring this chair symbolizes how I bring this belief into action.

So here I go… I’m restoring grandma’s chair, and I’m sharing the journey with you!

Wish me luck!

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