It's only temporary.

Bethany writes:

February 14, 1997  - I made a pass at Tom.
2 weeks, 3 dates later - we moved in together.
4 years, 6 months later - we were wed.



Instead of having children, we bought a dinette set.  It was a pretty crappy dinette set, made of "solid wood" (aka plywood).  It wobbled and took mean pinches at plumpy hips if you settled back into the chairs too deeply.

"It will do.  It's only temporary", we rationalized as we shoved the cheap furniture into the back of the Subaru.

10 years later and the last of the "Only Temporary" dinette chairs just collapsed (thankfully under Tom's bum and not mine - my ego would have never survived the crush).  We headed out today to buy a replacement set of "Only Temporary" dinette chairs.  As a couple, we will happily spend great chunks of money on organic food, fine wine, and music but we DETEST spending money on furniture and clothing.  Come to our house for meals and music, but bring a blindfold. Or a sharp stick.

2:37 pm and 5 new chairs were being shoved in the back of the Subaru.  We were both equally irritated and equally ready to spend some tit-for-tat money. Tom steered with one knee while punching in the address to a rekkid store in Waterville Maine.  45 minutes later we pulled into The Record Connection. We could not miss the parking lot - the corner of the building was painted with an LP.

Bob, the owner of the store, greeted us when we walked in. Confronted with his relaxed demeanor and calm smile, our shoulders unfurled from their ear-level hover.  He eyeballed us and directed us to the back room.  "You will probably be in there awhile", he chuckled.  He was right.

The back room of The Record Connection is a vinylophiles' dream.   Bin-upon-bin of meticulously categorized and carefully tended LPs, with each album jacket nestled in a thick, protective plastic sleeve.  The store was a unique sensory amalgam of Middle School library hush, the dry-leaf decay of old books and the sharp scent of clean vinyl.



We bought 7 albums (this go-'round):
 
1 - "Clifford Brown & Max Roach"
2 - Ahmad Jamal, "Poinciana"
3 - Ahmad Jamal, "chamber music of the new jazz"
4 - Pat Metheny Group, "American Garage"
5 - Taylor & Lofton, "Low Down Piano"
6 - Bud Powell, "Inner Fires"
7 - Bach Brandenburg Concerti, Yehudi Menuhin