Why is El Sofa is Covered in Plastic

I just thought of the sad excuse for a sofa that I have at home. It’s pretty beaten up, even torn on many parts. My wife and I finally went to Macy’s and bought a new one, it should be coming soon.

As I thought about this new acquisition, I was immediately transported back to my childhood. I couldn’t help but think of the many different homes that I visited growing up in the Bronx.

angel Rodriguez finding latino sofa2

Note, most of the homes I visited were Latino households, and there were many traits that we all shared in common.

1) All the homes had fancy looking cheap chandeliers. Most likely purchased from the same chandelier dealer. I still remember when I went to one of my best friend’s house, his dad had about 20 chandeliers hanging on the ceiling. 

Preguntale a tu mama si quiere comprar una! Hacemos buen negocio!

2) We all had bunk beds. We were poor, that’s real talk right there. Yet, most of us had several siblings, and not enough rooms. The solution? Go upward yo, use those bunk beds! 

3) Quite a few households had those colorful beads to separate the rooms in place of doors.

I can go on and on citing all the similarities, but let’s move on to the big one!

Of all things we shared in common, there was one universal given! It lived in that one room, that item, the rule, the sacred vow that none could ever violate! I’m talking about the sala (living room) where our sofas resided. The sofas that were all kept covered in the original plastic! Don’t you dare for one second consider removing those plastic covers!

In Latino culture, this is an offense punishable by death! No te atrevas!

angel Rodriguez finding latino sofa

Looking at my pathetic excuse for a sofa, I can now, some 30 years later, truly appreciate why our parents and grandparents did this. I think that one of my best friends still has the same couch that his family had when we were teenagers! It is still covered in plastic, and in tact! Over two decades later! Say what you will about peeling yourself off of that couch, sweating your nuts off in the summer, and sometimes even leaving some skin behind, there is a method to their madness! That plastic covered couch will last them a lifetime!

Viva la patria! Respect!

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