My Side
Everyone has a side of the bed. At least I think they do. I always sleep on the right side by the windows, just in case I want to make a quick exit. (Kidding.) Most people, I think, have a dedicated place at the table. We don’t really. We tend to move around, a product of our lifestyle; the view; the sort of loft-like nature of our house; who happens to be at the dinner table. One or the other of us might say, “I want to sit here.” Or one of the children, “Wait a minute, that’s MY place.” And then a shuffle occurs and we all reorder ourselves.
I also don’t believe in the rule that couples should be separated at a dinner party. Sometimes couples should be allowed to sit next to each other (and sometimes not...) depending on the make-up of the dinner party. Inevitably someone protests one rule or another – “I want to sit next to him,” or someone else will say, “Couples should be separated, I can’t help it that I feel that way, I’m British.” If there are only six of you at dinner, it doesn’t make that much difference, anyway. I sometimes wish we had a dining room that accommodated a round table. We don’t. We have a long thin dining room with a slanted ceiling (higher on one side than the other), windows only on one side and not the length-wise side, that one of my nephews refers to as “The Mafia Room.” I’m not sure why.
If you’re fortunate enough to have a bathroom with two sinks, for sure one of them is YOURS and yours alone. Mine is also on the right side. It looks as if I have a leaning that I didn’t know about...
I’ve always thought it would be great to have a “his and hers” kitchen. My idea would be that there would be two stoves and two work spaces – as far away from each other as possible, joined by a common double sink and dishwasher. I wonder if anyone’s ever done this? If you’ve heard of one, please let me know. Send me an Instagram!
I would in this instance choose the right side and give my husband, the left. Having written, I realize that I am right-handed and he is left-handed. Although I have no idea if that has something to do with our inherent choices.
Which brings me to the toaster. We have a four slice toaster. Miraculously, it works! We’ve had a lot of toasters that didn’t work. This one does – it even has a setting for bagels, although I’ve never quite figured out why. And we each have a chosen side of the toaster. Mine is the right side. And it would never occur to me to use the left. I don’t know why. Unless, of course, I’m making four pieces of toast.
Tell me which side you’re on!
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My husband tried to politely ask a three year old to let him sit at the head of our table. No dice. Big tantrum. My husband asked the parents to take the child home until she could behave. Not sure we did the right thing, but the dinner party went as planned with him sitting at the head of the table. Marked territory.
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