pieces and ponderings

Our home went through some major re-arranging this past weekend.  Late Thursday night, a wonderful three-piece sectional sofa was moved into our living room.  On Friday, man-sized children, child number one and child number three moved various pieces of furniture around the house as their mother (me) directed.  It was much like a symphony being played by an orchestra…I waved my conductor’s baton and movement would begin…ok…not quite, but maybe it was a little like that.

Old sofas were moved, chairs were moved, desks were moved, our computer was moved, a china cabinet was moved, sundry cabinets that I don’t know the official names of were moved, and pictures that hung on walls were moved.  Lots of moving.

At the end of the day on Friday, I looked at all of the work that had been done and  declared it “good.”  I liked it.  Not only do I love the sofa that can seat our entire family if we so desire, but I like where our computer now sits on its desk, where I can write blog entries and stuff.  I like the china cabinet in its new home.  I like the pictures on different walls.  All of this change, which I behold as good, seemed to send our golden retriever dog, Ellie, into a mild depression.

As new furniture entered our house and old furniture was shifted around and her favorite couch was moved into the entry-way of our home and then out of the house completely, Ellie looked a bit dazed, somewhat confused and at times a little panicky.

As my celebratory exclamations grew louder and louder over the few days of re-arranging…Ellie began looking sadder and sadder.  My husband brought home a nice, soft, fluffy doggie cushion to give her a place that was all her own…a refuge in the furniture re-arranging storm.   She has laid on it a few times…when one of my children or I have knelt down by the cushion and patted it to indicate it was time for her to lie down.  But a few moments later, we would find her lying in front of the cushion…seemingly mourning the loss of her favorite sofa.

I can relate to her feelings of attachment…usually I don’t like change either…I tend to push against change in my life.  But, I love the new sectional sofa…have I mentioned that already…and I had awaited the day when we would wave good-bye to the three-person-used-to-be-an-off-white-color couch that turned into a sort-of-a-dingy-gray-and-stained couch (Ellie’s favorite).

I think that Ellie will eventually adjust to our household re-arrangement…probably about the time my oldest two children head off to college next month.  Then I’ll  join her lying on the floor in front of her cushion…lamenting the change.