How Shopping For Curtain Rods

Made Me Feel Old

 

 

 

 

Life had recently gotten a little better in my household so I decided it was a good time to “freshen up” my kitchen.  I live in an old house built in 1926.  An ‘A’ frame, wooden house, more functional than esthetically pleasing but my parents bought it in 1955 and I bought it from them in 1982.  I was raised here and so were my kids more or less.  We’re not planning on moving so we maintain it as best we can.

 

Back to curtain rods.

 

Through a colleague I found a very nice and reliable ‘handyman.’  He gave me an estimate well within my means, so between the two of us we gathered the materials to turn my dark walnut paneled kitchen into something that didn’t resemble a cave.  Nice creamy walls and cabinets with brown trim.  New hardware for the cabinet doors and most importantly a new ceiling that wasn’t about to collapse on us when anyone slammed a door.  He’s gotten to the point where I can re-hang my kitchen curtains.  Again nothing fancy just something light and airy. 

 

I discovered that one of the new light fixtures was a little wider than the former fixture so my old curtain rod was too wide.  No problem, I switched it with the other one.  Then I discovered the hardware on the other window was different and of course wouldn’t hold the rod.  So this morning I went on a search for a new curtain rod.

 

And this is where I discovered just how old I really am!

 

Apparently they no longer make pencil thin curtain rods in varying lengths.  You know the ones I mean, the ones with the holes on the ends so they slip onto the hooks that have been attached to your windows for the last half century?

 

No?

 

Well, neither has anyone else.  When did my simple curtain rod (I thought they were simple) turn into tension rods that require no hardware at all?  Practically every window in the house has old curtain hardware that’s been painted and repainted at least 30 times!  Every few years when my father decided to white wash the walls the curtain hardware got painted.  They’re a permanent fixture in my house.  Remove them and the walls may collapse.

 

I went to three stores including a Sears Hardware and regular Sears...NO simple pencil thin curtain rod.

 

Finally in desperation I went to Bed Bath and Beyond, they usually have everything and many things that I don’t need but purchase anyway because it’s there, on display that saps like me can not resist.  I settled for the tension rod.