Part of why I love to find old used treasures is because of the stories I dream up behind the objects.
The hubs and I bought a "proper" (and expensive) office table for our home office space. It was a huge clunky and beautiful white table. We got it home and were ready to build it up but then decided it was just too big for the space. We returned it, remembering an old German school table that was for sale at Brauchbar (German Goodwill).
Everybody who sees this table has a nostalgic moment. "Ahhhhh" they say. And then I get to point out the best part. Underneath the left-hand side of this old 2-seater school table, scrawled onto the wood where it would be sheilded by a child's knees is boldly written "BRUCE LEE."
I have this visual of a little German boy, hiding behind the cover of his backpack that's conveniently hanging off the end of the table and rebelliously inscribing the name of his hero with a permanent marker.
On the right-hand side of the table, in a much more delicate, pencil-inscribed format is a very faint, bubble-lettered "LOVE ME." I can't help but think of the little German girl who's neighbor brings out her rebellious side and joins in the fun. In English no less. So so sweet.
In the romantic sense, every single person who has seen this table is transported back to the time when we were forced to sit through hours of lessons and our only display of power or control were these little daredevil acts of courage. Crayon breaking. Note passing. Spit ball making. In the practical sense, this table is so sturdy and well-made it holds our printers on top and our stacks of paper underneath where the children's books used to go. It doesn't wobble like all this new hollow-tube legged office furniture that's out there now. It makes me wonder why anybody buys anything new ever.
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