As you can see, that's a very comfortable chair....

As a teenager in the 1970's, life was so fun. I had a cheap car, a girlfriend, a band and….I had a part time job. Between these extra curricular activities was school and many times that got a back seat. Another necessary activity that was regularly neglected was quality sleep!!!

I was a night owl by nature which meant I would rise late..usually noon, and go to bed late...usually after 2:30. This did not mix well with a Summer job!!! THE ORANGE ROOM was kept dark as a tomb in the mornings when I could sleep late, but this was becoming less and less frequent. So what was a kid to do but sleep when he found the opportunity.

On one particular Summer day, I went into work at the Furniture store on Adams Street. It was called Loensteins and had recently become Pioneer Furniture. My Mom worked there and had got me the job. Mostly, warehouse work and occasionally the odd request such as assembling furniture!!!! Now, I've never been much of a mechanical guy but on this day, I was very tired from a late night only hours before. I knew that the recliner that I was assembling was on the 6th or 7th floor. In those days, downtown stores were beginning to see a rapid decline in customer traffic with new facilities being built on the North end of town.

I accepted the challenge of assembling the recliner's foot rest knowing that I may get the chance to lay down on the carpet behind the other chairs and sofas and catch a few ZZzzz.

With that in mind, I rode the elevator to the 6th floor with my trusty borrowed tool bag and and a plan!!!

I honestly can say, my attempt to assemble the foot rest started off pretty good. I had all the parts and pieces laid out and screws in small piles. I think I even got one half of the foot rest attached to the ugly brown and gold recliner before the narcolepsy set in!!!!

Now, I can't remember much of what happened next....I can remember laying my head down on the floor, resting on my arm.....that's it. I'm not sure how long I was out...but the next thing I know, I hear voices on the 6th floor!!!!! A sales man and a young couple casually looking at each piece of furniture while the sales man explained why each piece was just right for their home!!! Oh shit.... How long have I been out? Had they seen me yet? Should I just begin to continue screwing....or have I been caught SCREWING OFF????? I hadn't yet processed the voices in my head when my questions were answered. The customers turned the corner and saw me!!!! a 17 year old in tee shirt and jeans...long black hair, screwdriver in hand FAST ASLEEP on the floor in the furniture store.

I kept my eyes closed TIGHT!!!! If I can't see them perhaps they won't see me? That never works. Soon, I heard the sales man use the situation to his advantage saying..well now, you can see how comfortable this chair is....our hired help fell asleep just putting it together!!!!

Laughter came next as I could sense and feel the wind of their legs walking over my paralyzed body...no one said a thing to me. The voices soon disappeared and continued down the elevator. I finished my job as quickly as I could and waited for the biggest ribbing of my life by the owner and his sales staff...and my MOM!!! Surprisingly, there wasn't much said of the sleep innocent.

I'm sure I slept much better that night in my ORANGE ROOM!!!!

Christmas Party in the Basement of Pioneer Furniture... Me and the Sales Man who found me asleep!!!!