My bed is very old.

I found it behind a barn in New Hampshire where it lay in the grass, rusted and unloved. We stripped it down and painted it with off-white Rustoleum paint. We polished the brass finials and made slats to support the mattress.

I love my bed with a passion and it is one material possession I could never part with.

I often wonder if someone gave birth between the ancient headboard and footboard. Did someone die between the iron curlicues.

I paid $18 for my bed, and it was a bargain.