When Jeremy and I first got married, our house was furnished via the local auction place. :-) Some of our finds included a $130 antique (beautiful!) kitchen table, a $5 microwave stand, a $30 waterbed, a $20 (ugly) couch, etc etc. Many of our finds have been slowly replaced as we have the money, and more will be replaced in the future I'm sure. And then there's our coffee table. Jeremy, not even being able to see it very well from his seat, bid $1 and won it. That's right, ONE DOLLAR. Somehow this ugly piece of furniture has never made it out of our home. It's so ugly it's unique. Although, I have to admit it has grown on me. Maybe it's the uniqueness, or the "ugly duckling" aspect of it, or the "character" in the patchwork looking top and the odd leather straps. (what on earth are those for???) Regardless, I haven't yet felt the need to toss it out on garbage day.
Another thing this coffee table has going for it is it's amazing durability. I have never owned such a sturdy piece of furniture! It's solid, thick wood and it takes all kinds of abuse on a daily basis without a complaint. I am no lightweight, but I can STAND on this coffee table and it doesn't so much as creak. (with our height difference, this puts me at the perfect height for kissing Jeremy hehe.) It's also right under the ceiling fan, which makes it a handy stool for changing light bulbs. Since Levi could pull up, it's been the perfect height for him to drive cars on, build things on, eat snacks at, or most recently, climp up and sit on. Daily he pounds on it with hammers, springs, or other various tools and toys, and yet it survives.
And so the coffee table will live on. :-) I am determined that someday I will replace it with something pretty, but I am just as determined that that day will come ONLY when our children are past the destructive stage. (wait a minute.....does that stage ever end?)
PS--Who knew you could write an entire blog post about a coffee table?? :-p
