A Centrepiece of a Life Once Lived
It’s one of the few things I miss most from our family home. While downsizing from our house to a townhome, my 8′ long dining table, once the centrepiece for family gatherings, dinner parties, celebrations, homework sessions and yes, even beer pong, no longer fits.
This was one of the few pieces of furniture we had chosen together as a couple and wanted for a very long time. It was, in many ways, a very grown-up purchase. I desperately wanted it to fit into my new home, and with measuring tape in hand, I tried to make it work with the new floor plan. It’s funny to think a table could mean so much, and yet it does—holding so many fond memories for me.
I’ve been in my new home for a few years with my new life and a new table. I needed to find the perfect table for my new space, eventually deciding on a mid-century modern Saarinen. It’s definitely smaller and cozier, which is great for those intimate gatherings. So yes, my table is different, the chairs around it are the same, but the memories I’m making are new and will continue.
The Heart of the Home
Incidentally, this wasn’t just any piece of furniture—modern and sleek; it was specially ordered from Germany. I loved the fact that it could be easily cleaned, removing wine stains from an evening with friends, and perfect with a house full of boys.
Sadly, the table was sold to a young family who would continue making new memories. It was like saying goodbye to an old friend, knowing you will never see them again. I will remember my friend, reminding the new owner to take good care of our special table.
The dining table has always been a symbol of many things. It was this past Canadian Thanksgiving that I realized the dining table truly is the heart of the home. The people around my table change from time to time, and I hold those special moments close to my heart. Whether it’s a celebration, a conversation, or a laugh, don’t underestimate the table—the heart of your home—and the many moments it may bring you, like my new table.
It seems odd how a table can have so much significance, conversely how many significant memories are made around one piece of furniture. It’s true. We had a practical piece in our kitchen, and even though my wife never understood the importance of a family having dinner together, a ton of memories were made around that table. I kept the table. Now it’s in my little galley kitchen, where I spend a great deal of my time, my place of meditation.