<p>As I start to see threads on CC of new freshman starting to equip their new dorm rooms, it made me think of how significant and memorable those “things” can be…</p>
<p>How many people have bought one of the Target “bowl” chairs for their child’s dorm room?</p>
<p>We bought D one in 2007 for her freshman year. I can remember seeing it was on sale one Sunday morning and how we called the Target stores in our area to see who had on in the color she wanted (HOT PINK!) and had them hold it for us. The bowl chairs were fairly new then I think.</p>
<p>That chair sat a lot of people and hosted many occasions and milestones! It was chair she watched American Idol in freshman year - her first year watching it without “us” since she was away from home. </p>
<p>It was the chair her annoying roommate slept in when she was sick freshman year (and D called me furious wanting to know how to disinfect it!!)</p>
<p>It was the chair that prompted another phone call to me in sophomore year when a best girl friend sat in it during “that time of the month” and had a slight leak through - “omg mom! My chair! How do we clean it!?”</p>
<p>It was the “phone chair” junior and senior year - the spot where D could sneak away for private moments in her bedroom in a 2 bed apt to talk to her BF. And the chair where she realized it was time to break up with him after 4 years. </p>
<p>It was the chair that each year, was hauled back home and folded back into it’s plastic Target sleeve to hibernate over the summer before being hauled back out in August to find it’s place in the same university, but new residence.</p>
<p>Last year, the chair got some new digs - and so did my D! A new graduate, she landed a job and relocated to her new city of choice and rented her first apt with a fellow graduate of her college. They hung their college pictures, certificates and random “college-ish” things up because that is all they knew for the past 4 years and were still dearly hanging onto those memories. And, in a big corner nook in the living room, the hot pink chair was placed, ready to warm the body and buns (
) of anyone who would plop in it. A little bright, a little out of place with the hand me down other furniture in the room, but familiar.</p>
<p>A couple weeks ago, daughter moved to a townhouse. An upgrade earned by a good year of work, a couple of $$ raises. Hot pink chair was folded up and moved into the new place. As we helped her move and unpack a bit, it became clear that truly there was no place for the chair in these adult digs. Just as the college-ish photos and silly teen trinkets were no longer suitable, it was time for the Target chair to retire. D asked me to take it home and could I keep it in the attic next to her “keep it” box??? (a box(es) where each kid has their childhood memories). Yes, of course. </p>
<p>Maybe one day she will become a new homeowner and have a basement rec room. Basement rec rooms can be prime real estate for second hand, random pieces of furniture. Maybe, just maybe, that $20 purchase - the Target pink bowl chair, will be called to duty again.</p>