FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE
Four years ago we bought a new bed. One of our sons told us how great their new bed was and as we were about to purchase one, we checked out his brand to see what was so great. We tried several kinds, finally settled on a CA king with twin mattresses, a Tempur-Pedic Cloud Supreme on two Serta platforms. Each platform has its own motor and separate controls for raising and lowering the head and foot of the mattresses, great for reading in bed. It takes two bottom twin sheets, one king top sheet and covers fit over the top. Forget the price tag and remember how many hours a week or a year you spend in bed and then invest accordingly. Here are the specs: “The California King measures 84″ L x 72″ W x 11.5″ H. Backed by a 10-year limited warranty, the TEMPUR-Cloud Supreme will deliver the great night sleep that you need.”
Our criteria were comfort, durability, separate, yet together and ease of operating the controls. The remote controller has five different buttons, up and down for the bottom, up and down for the top and one button at the bottom for all down. When I told S. I was writing this new blog, she said “I love that bed.” Enough said. We think it’s probably the best one we’ve had in 25 years, so let’s just say it does what it’s supposed to do and we are satisfied with the results. It provides great sleeping, good naps and comfortable reading or watching a TV in the corner which we don’t do. We prefer to read whether at night or before an afternoon nap. There might be a rare occasion to turn on the bedroom TV.
The rest of our life, meaning what remains in our lives is, unlike the bed, an unknown quantity, and, to some degree, unknown quality too. Becoming comfortable with uncertainty has taken years of practice with a few bumps along the way. We learn to adjust, adapt and change. We have survived and enjoyed a measure of success thus far. What we know for sure is we are here now, in this place, at this time. Beyond that, the rest of our life could be longer or shorter and while we can continue to enjoy and celebrate the rest of our life we will do that. To the extent we can influence and shape what’s next, we will do that. We are experienced enough to know that a time will come when we will not have the controls with the requisite buttons for comfort. When that time arrives we will turn the control over to those whom we love and trust to make the decisions on our behalf. That is based on our agreement with each other and, like buying the bed, we love being and doing together for the rest of our life.
You have probably heard or read a quote which is the first line of a poem from an unknown author.
“Today is the very first day of the rest of my life. This is the beginning of a new day. I have been given this day to use as I will. I can waste it … or use it for good, but what I do today is important, because I am exchanging a day of my life for it.
When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever, leaving in its place something I have traded for it. I want it to be gain and not loss; good and not evil; success and not failure; in order that I shall not regret the price I have paid for it. I will try just for today, for you will never fail until you stop trying.”