The Recliner, by Phillip Hoyle

Some years ago when my back started hurting I got a new swivel chair for my desk at work. Then my wife and I bought a new firm mattress. These two steps were helpful yet did not solve the problem totally. Then I bought myself better shoes that gave my arches adequate support. I was really beginning to feel fine. Then Myrna bought me a recliner, a small one from La-Z-Boy®. I was not quite sure of the message, but I did find the chair moderately comfortable. From my point of view the seemed unnecessary, maybe not a good choice for I had never been able to sit or sleep comfortably in such chairs. Still, this model seemed okay for me due to the facts it was more firm than our mattress and it was not one of those monster-size chairs made for retired football linemen. The recliner sat next to the bed. I got a lamp so I could read while sitting in it. That was in the days when I was reading five books a week. Using a pillow, I could read for hours and not hurt my back. My back got even better—actually stronger—when I added Super Circuit at the gym as well as my marathon reading in the recliner.

Some people at the church where I worked thought we would enjoy a new TV. They bought a nice SONY model, a really large one. It was fine but we didn’t really want nor need a TV to replace the smaller one that worked just fine. In fact, the new TV required that we buy an entertainment center large enough to hold it. We found a nice one but realized we had no place for it in the living room. So it went into our rather large bedroom, and of course the kids wanted to come and watch the big one. I rarely watched TV. My space was being eroded. I wondered if I would become a recliner potato, but couldn’t recline in the new chair to watch the big TV because my new glasses were bifocal.  

Oh the problems of modern life for the ageing. As you may suppose I was ageing a long time ago! And the process hasn’t ended. Actually I’m pleased about that. If I ever start not ageing…. Well I suspect you’ve already been thinking about such things. Where I live now there two recliners. I suspect I‘ll be using both of them for even more reclining while my life is declining, but I do hope that’s a ways off for me.

© 6 Feb 2017 

About the Author 

Phillip Hoyle lives in Denver and spends his time writing, painting, and socializing. In general, he keeps busy with groups of writers and artists. Following thirty-two years in church work and fifteen in a therapeutic massage practice, he now focuses on creating beauty. He volunteers at The Center leading the SAGE program “Telling Your Story.”

He also blogs at artandmorebyphilhoyle.blogspot.com