Susanna J. Sturgis   Martha's Vineyard writer and editor
writer editor born-again horse girl

Return to Archives

Bonjour, Mattress

June 29, 2006

No impending arrival was ever more anxiously awaited, and no new arrival was ever more welcome. My new mattress (and box spring, and frame) arrived at 4:45 this afternoon.

The shipment arrived on island Tuesday; there was some chance my mattress would be delivered that day, but the chance was small so I didn't worry when it hadn't arrived by 4 p.m. I went to the barn.

Yesterday I thought all day it would come for sure. At 5:15 -- nothing. The shop where I bought it had closed for the day; I left a message -- and went to the barn. The fog was heavy as rain; it was late. True, I'd got a lot of work done while waiting for Godot — uh, my new bed — but it was all work of the sedentary writing and editing and reading kind, the kind that makes me want to take a nap every two hours. This is why I horse around in the afternoon: cerebral activity puts me to sleep, physical exertion wakes me up.

Without Allie I'd be rotting my stomach with strong black tea or blowing my mind with speed, all just to stay awake.

A nap would have been OK but since my old mattress died I've been sleeping on the floor. Well, not quite on the floor: I laid an old camp sleeping bag on the utility carpet and my comforter, folded, on top of that. Into the critical space where my lower back rested I stuffed some bubble wrap. Versatile stuff, bubble wrap. Maybe you never considered it as back-saving material, but if you need to pad a makeshift mattress and you've got some handy, give it a try. Sleeping on the floor is not as spartan as it seems -- it's been much better for my back than The Mattress That Turned Against Me - but the floor wasn't a tempting place for a nap.

I did spend one last night on the floor. Today a couple of phone calls ascertained that my invoice had been inadvertently filed instead of handed to the delivery guys, so the delivery guys were driving around with my bed and no idea where it was supposed to go. Nice young woman at bed shop was extremely apologetic and promised that bed would arrive between 4:30 and 5:00. The truck pulled up at 4:40. Bless them, bless them, bless them.

After I got back from the barn, I made up My New Bed and set the room back to rights; I'd moved all possible obstructions so the delivery guys could remove the old bed and move in the new one. Now I'm about to give in to temptation and test-sleep the new bed. A good night's sleep really is worth whatever you have to pay for it. The only other things I can say that about are Rhodry, Allie, Uhura Mazda, and Morgana IV. Whatever you can do without, do; but don't skimp on the important stuff.

 

Home - Writing - Editing - About Susanna - Bloggery - Articles - Poems - Contact

Copyright © Susanna J. Sturgis. All rights reserved.
web site design and CMI by goffgrafix.com of Martha's Vineyard