Our table has been part of our family for more than 30 years. It’s been with us though weddings, births, birthdays, and mourning.
Its served countless breakfasts, dinners, perhaps just a few fewer lunches.. and sat laden for more parties than I can remember .. countless friends have sat around that table.. It’s been the site of many a night-before school projects, or night-before tax session.. i’ve written books on that tables, the kids have written papers, quilts have been made, cell phones repairs, . dianes made thousand and thousand of wonderful meals.. on it.. m and 10’s of thousands of samstones have been made there..
today that table needed a little TLC.. it’s been wobbly for decades.. lately its gotten so wobbly and squeaky that’ it was staring to be hard to use..
so I flipped it over and saw what could be done.. we stretched out its skeleton and looked for all the wobbliness..
I unscrewed the table from the frame.. while I was there.. I put a little reminder to the next person who takes it apart.. ‘we were all here’.. at least in spirit.
the source of the porblem was the old 19 century hardware.. no threads left… I assisted with a little 21st sentory deck screes.. mybe not enhancing the value of the table as an antique.. but definitely adding to its utility..
when done, i plugged in tall the leaves to full party mode.. solid as a rock !
now theSam days and Thnaksgiving are over.. it’s time to shrink it bacl to space for just the three of us.. back to a little more peace.. and a little less activity.. unitl the next swirl
Thanks you table.. for all you have done for us.. we are happy to have you back, and we wish you long life.. I hope you next 30 years are as full of love and life as the last ones have been .
nite all, nite sam
-me
Now this is an ironic coincidence! Our kitchen table is an old hand me down from my own parents that saw me any my family through much of my childhood and now serves my own family. Recently I had begun to notice a certain degree of shakiness from ours as well, and at first check tightened some loose fasteners. Sadly my wife began to have trouble cutting sweet potatoes on it for Thanksgiving and I decided much as you had that a more detailed examination was in order. Unfortunately, I am currently recovering from carpal tunnel release surgery on my dominant hand so I’ll have to postpone any repair work until I myself am repaired. With a touch of good fortune it can patiently await me along with a growing list of other matters. And, after reading your post, perhaps I’ll have a better idea of how to approach the issue.
A kitchen table is a valuable treasure to any home and one far too often overlooked or under appreciated. We should all take the time to care for the things in our lives that silently do so much for us in our daily lives.