Bed and a moment of sadness and sentiment

PID is or was a Christian Music group Chris liked. Time to say “Goodbye.”

Foolish to be sentimental about a bed. Still, now that we’re considering getting rid of this particular bed, I find making that decision difficult. It isn’t much to look at. The blond wood has pot marks and places where different users have carved a word or graphic into the wood—nothing bad. The bed has been remade over the years so it is sturdy and with some restoring, could comfort youngsters for years to come.

After World War II, my dad became a pastor. We moved every few years as he was called to different pastorates. He married before the war and Mom was a big part of his life and ministry—as a musician, teacher, organizer and whatever was needed. Those early years also heralded three children.

My sister Karin was born in 1946, me born in 1950 and our younger brother Paul born in 1954. My dad loved ministering but also loved carpentry which he usually did on the side wherever we lived. When it came time for Karin to need a big girl bed, dad didn’t go to a store for a bed. I doubt my folks could have afforded that anyway.

Dad made a bed for Karin. Since he knew we would be moving throughout the years, he made it to be easily dismantled and packed. It was also easy to put back together. Karin slept in that bed for years. As we got older, and maybe to keep us out of trouble, Karin and I were tasked to do one thing when we moved into the new parsonage. Our job was to assemble her bed. All we needed was a screwdriver.

In Wyoming, Paul got the bed, while Karin and I shared a larger bed. When I got sick and Karin left for college, the bed became mine. But it was too low to accommodate sliding back and forth from a wheelchair. Dad remade the bed sturdier and higher and no longer easy to take apart. It became my bed for many years to come. That bed came with me when we moved to Kearney and, later, when I married. It became the guest bed.

Both of our kids used the bed as they grew up. Our grandkids and many a guest have used the bed since, once our kids grew up, married and left home, our daughter’s bedroom became both storage and guest room.

It isn’t as easy for us to travel these days, so Cassie and Kurt have spent more time visiting us. They could use something more permanent than inflating and deflating the air mattress every time in the living room. Where does that leave the bed my dad made, remade and has cushioned so many? Not sure yet.

We’ve decided to add a sofabed. That means lots of rearranging and getting rid of the bed Dad made and that holds so many memories. Cassie and others have suggested other ideas. But it’s time to clear out her old bedroom and make it into a room Cassie and Kurt can claim when they visit.

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60 MPH winds and going strong