Loverly....

All I want is a room somewhere,

Far away from the cold night air.

With one enormous chair....

Oh, wouldn't it be lovely!

I remember driving up to the Big Burg with my parents one Sunday afternoon. We went to the theater and saw “My Fair Lady.” My mother smiled for days. True, it was Audrey Hepburn in the movie, but Mother loved Julie Andrews, and musicals, and happy endings.

Not unusual for someone who suddenly went to an orphanage when she was 8. And not surprisingly, she never wanted to see “Annie” despite its happy ending.

So, this morning, I am thinking about my mother, happy endings, and enormous chairs. Well, mostly about the enormous chair. I have one, you know. Technically, it's called “a chair and a half” but it's really just enormous.

When I bought it, the saleslady assured me that it would “wear like iron.” Hmmmm....doesn't iron rust? Oh well. She was right: it has been the stage for many a story. Silently providing a comfortable backdrop for snuggling, watching TV, or even conversation. Quiet, significant conversations between grandmother and grandchild, mother and child, or father and child.

Cousins have occupied it. Or rather, used it as a launch pad, or landing spot, or even as a bed. The oldest, tallest grandchild sits in it sideways to watch TV. The next oldest tried to use it as a bed, with his legs hanging over on to the coffee table.

Whatever its assigned task, it is enormous, comfortable, tolerant, and red. Very red. Kitty Bartholomew, the interior designer, says everyone should have a red chair: it emboldens reticent guests to join the conversation. Ah, I can attest to that.

Conversation starter, nest, locale for a tete-a-tete, launch pad, or landing spot, it truly is lovely, to me.

Or is that lov-ER-ly?