THE CHAIR

           Seat belts as a safety feature in automobiles began, apparently, in the mid-to-late-1950's.  Before then, driver and passengers alike were always at risk in the event of an accident.  As naive as such may now be, that  was 'just the way it was' and fortunately for us, many were spared.

         Which brings me to the chair above.  From the early 1940's until 1954, my dad drove two dry cleaning pick-up/delivery routes.  "Number 8" was MWF and "Number 6" was TTh&abbreviatedS.  Beginning at about age 8 through maybe  age 13, I rode with him during summers, often on Saturdays and many school holidays. The chair was my spot right beside him.  From there I imbibed many 'life lessons'.  My Pay?  Two dollars per week . . .  plus as many soft drinks and snacks as dad thought acceptable.  Fringe benefits?: Huge was being trusted with significant amounts of cash and coins for making change when collecting accounts during 'pay day' in the mill village that was a mainstay of his business.  No 'big deal' was made of this responsibility but with such did he foster a sense of  confidence and competence.  

     Much of his and mom's youth and early adulthoods were spent in this town and many relatives were still living there.  Consequently, another fringe benefit was having frequent noontime meals with either my maternal grand-parents or dad's foster sister and her husband.  They were the personifications of Homecooking and affection.  

    The panel truck's 'air conditioner' was a small oscillating fan on the dash.  But there was a radio and we often sang along.  And I heard many stories of relatives and friends and his and mom's lives in the early 20th century (though not nearly as much as  I now wish).  'Attachments' . . . relationships, a sense of having a place, belonging . . . are vital for a sense of security and well-being in childhood development.  

     A common perception of psychoanalysis places huge emphasis on the Mother-Son relationship.  A more balanced understanding also recognizes the importance of the Father-Son  relationship, whether present or absent.  In an earlier post, Wisdom was his Tool, I paid tribute to some of dad's influence and do not mean to be overly repetitious in this note.  

     I like the term 'surplus meaning' that denotes the added significance inherent in everyday items.  A diploma viewed in one way is but a piece of paper; likewise, a marriage license, a birth certificate.  A ring  can be but a bit of molded metal until it becomes a wedding ring.  The old chair now hangs in a storage area of our home.  Its  material value is very limited. . . perhaps a few coins at a salvage store.  When I look at it, however, I remember the hours spent in that sawed-off straight-back'er and the influence coming from the driver seated next to me and am grateful.

    Satchel