Life as an Outdoor Porch Swing

Hello, I'm an outdoor porch swing. I like to hang out and watch as the world goes by. The other day I had visitors. They seemed so happy and content. I couldn't quite tell what they were saying, but it sounded like they were talking about all sorts of things. The little one was talking about her teacher I think. The older one seemed to be doing a lot of listening and only a little talking. They laughed from time to time and the gentle swinging motion felt good to me.

Life as an outdoor porch swing isn't always very exciting. I have to admit that many days out of the year it can be quite lonely. I see a lot of people coming and going, and I am not sure why they don't take more time to stop and say hi to me. I think they are just busy and don't realize that I have feelings too. I wish they would though. It always makes me feel so good when they pay me some attention.

Speaking of getting attention, a few years back, the middle sized boy did something to me that really surprised me. I am a wooden outdoor porch swing, so I can get beat up by the weather and use. This boy took this loud rough thing and started rubbing it all over me. At first it sort of hurt. He was removing part of me. I think he called the device a sander. Yeah, that's it, a sander. After about a half hour or so he stopped sanding and started rubbing his hand all over my new smooth surface. It felt so good. Then he brushed on this funny smelling stuff called stain, or maybe it was paint. I don't know. Anyway, after all this stuff was put on me it started to dry. I felt so proud. I felt like brand new.

Not long after I got my new finish, a lot of people started using this ol' outdoor porch swing and I felt like I was in my prime all over again. For the first few months after this I had all sorts of good times. Kids were swinging on me like crazy, laughing and giggling and playing. I had old people spending time on me, too. I sensed their contentment as they would sit and watch the young people come and go. They seemed to be reflective and happy.

The years go by and now I am nearly at the end of my life. I have had many new beginnings. But I am getting old and tired. I am not the outdoor porch swing I used to be. A younger, fitter, probably more attractive one will soon replace me. But as I look back on all the good years I've had, I am thankful. I am so glad I got to be part of my family's life. I shared their joys and their tears. I went unnoticed by many, but was blessed to be used and appreciated by many others. I never wanted anything special. I just wanted to be a part of my family's life. I wanted to give them a nice place to talk, to rest, and to reflect. I think I did my job well, and I hope they think so too.