The Struggle is Real: Rising from Adirondack Chairs in Maine

The struggle to rise is real, especially when it's from an Adirondack chair.

Let me set the scene. This past summer, I made two simple choices after pre-hosting Central Maine Idol at the Quarry Tap Room in Hallowell. One was deciding to sit down, and after sitting, I eventually wanted to get up.

Want and need are two different things, because this girl couldn't get up.

End of story? No.

They say age is just a number, but my body has a different opinion. I may be 38 because of the date of my birth, but sometimes my body feels 137,328,203 years old.

That being said, join me in the uncomfortable world of struggling to rise from these deceptive northern-styled chairs, as well as embracing the undeniable truth that I am not as spry as I used to be.

I'll begin by saying that Adirondack chairs are exquisite. They were first created in Westport, New York, by Thomas Lee, according to Adirondack.net.

Brad Weaver via Unsplash

Now, let me be completely honest when I say that these chairs are beautiful at first glance, but upon further inspection, they are a little deceptive.

Made with love and creativity, I really do enjoy looking at them. However, while they lure you in with their "promise of relaxation", they will also eat your butt.

Not to mention they prohibit extension of your legs. Thus making you feel, well, old.

As I was sitting in the chair, pretending that I didn't want to get up yet, I knew I only had a couple of options. Option 1: Don't get up at all. Option 2: Struggle in front of everyone.

Obviously I went with option two, because my wife wouldn't want to get a call saying I was arrested for loitering in an Adirondack.

To add to the misery, that night was packed. The house was full with fans and competitors of the popular event.

Now, for average-sized women and men, these chairs really do challenge your agility. I mean, I had to squeeze every muscle in my body in order to try to get my body up, and it wasn't pretty.

There is a slant to the seat which sinks you down, and the chairs are very low to the ground.

And it wasn't the landing, but the moment of departure that threw me.

I had to summon all my strength, and it was far from swift and graceful. So there I was, trying to stand with determination and as that moment of departure approached, I summoned all my strength...but failed to rise.

I did this several times.

It was a battle of the wills with a very comical soundtrack of my grunts.

It felt like slow motion, but I have realized now that since the unpleasant experience, I should just maybe give my opinion to the good people of the Adirondack chairs.