Bill O’Boyle

Bill O’Boyle

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<p>My recliner</p>

My recliner

PLAINS TWP. — There are a few things/people that have played key roles in getting me through this pandemic of self-isolation and social distancing.

And I will be sure to properly thank each and treasure the many kind, compassionate deeds they have done for me. I can talk about them, but suffice to say that conversations, emails, texts have all helped considerably to assure I have kept my sanity and my belief that we all will get through this to a better day.

But there is one thing that I must tell you that without it, I would never have been able to survive — it’s my ultra-comfortable Lane recliner. I have attached a picture of my recliner for you all to see and appreciate.

Without exaggeration, my recliner is the most comfortable recliner I have ever sat in and I have experienced many varieties over the years. When I was a kid, we had a recliner that my mom and dad loved and sometimes debated on whose turn it was to sit in it — recline in it — for an afternoon or evening of TV viewing.My mom usually won.

I rarely sat in that chair. I was fine to relax at one end of our couch.

Through the years. recliners were always a part of the decor. To me, there are few inventions of mankind better than the recliner chair. And I am not talking about those that swivel or have attached drink holders or vibrate or, gasp!, a built-in cooler.

When I shopped for my recliner, I visited several furniture stores and department store showrooms. I can honestly tell you that when I first sat in my recliner — before purchasing it — I knew I wanted it.

And it has served me well. Not only do I use it exclusively to watch TV, but it also serves as my bed. I have never gotten more peaceful rest. Yes, I have a bed and a couch, but I can’t sleep on either. And when I have, I never got through a night without discomfort and waking up — relocating to my recliner.

And I really believe recliners know that they are good for you. And they somehow know when to wake you up without the aid of an alarm clock.

For instance, in 1984, my two cousins —Al and Wayne Jones, formerly of Forty Fort — were volunteering at the Los Angeles Olympic Games. Al and Wayne were outstanding wrestlers in Southern California in high school and college and they were good choices to help with the freestyle wrestling competition.

Al and Wayne would escort wrestlers from the locker room to the mat and after the match, escort them back for required tests. Somehow, Coach Dan Gable — a wrestling legend from Iowa — took a liking to these two former Durkee Street residents. They would actually sit on either side of Gable during matches. Why? I have no idea.

All I knew is that I wanted to see them in action. So on a night they were to be volunteering, I sat in my recliner and turned on the TV to watch the Olympic wrestling competition,

But I fell asleep — in my recliner — a common occurrence to this day.

But miraculously, my recliner thrust forward and I woke up. The TV was on and there before my eyes were Coach Gable and cousins Al and Wayne on either side of him. They were even talking into Gable’s ear, as if they were helping him coach.

It was an amazing sight.

One I never would have seen without my reliable recliner.

That’s one reason why I bought this new one and why I am always inclined to recline.

Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.