For men, recliners offer a love supine

After reading Bella English's column ("True test of love? Buying a recliner," Globe South, Jan. 21), I had two observations: I didn't know we were married, and I didn't know my wife's nom de plume was Bella English.

A little more than 18 months ago, my wife and I sold our home in Needham after spending 25 years there raising our wonderful children, and we moved to a townhouse in Stoughton. We were supposed to downsize -- we went from about 1,900 square feet to 2,800 square feet -- but, as you can see, we didn't.

I asked for just two things when we moved -- a huge screen TV and a recliner. We had an interior designer help us with our new home (color of paint, drapes, carpet, furniture), and when I told the designer I wanted just two things she blurted out, "A big-screen TV and a recliner, I know. It's a man's thing. My husband asked for the same two things."

Ms. English, you need to know that my wife grew up in the furniture business. Her father manufactured Beacon Hill Furniture, and his company, Kaplan and Fox, was one of the first furniture showrooms in the Boston Design Center. So, when I said that I wanted a recliner, you would have thought I had committed heresy.

True test of love?

You bet it was when she agreed to go to Jordan's (no Costco, but we did go to the Barcalounger showroom on Route 9 in Framingham). At Jordan's, we found the perfect recliner -- I can go back two positions and there is no bar on the side of the chair. It looks like a regular chair (black leather for my wife's and father-in-law's benefit), and it reclines (for my benefit).

The only problem is that as I sit back and watch my 50-inch plasma TV, I fall asleep. Not just me, though; my wife has also fallen asleep in the chair, as has, yes, my father-in-law.

You will love your husband's chair. At least if he lets you sleep in it.

Good luck and happy watching of TV. And, thank you for giving my wife and me a good laugh this morning.

Ed Carpenter
Stoughton