All Night Comfort from a Reliable Bed

A New Bed, A New Challenge

There’s a certain kind of satisfaction that comes with owning something that makes life just a little easier. For me, that something is my new adjustable bed. Since I bought it a few months ago, it has become one of the most cherished possessions in my home. I’ve enjoyed the simple pleasure of pressing a button to lift the head of the bed so I can read or watch TV in the middle of the night. Sometimes, I do it just for the thrill of having control over something as basic as my sleeping position. It’s a small power, but it feels mighty.

But power, like everything else, has its limits. One evening, after watching a rerun of “The Golden Girls,” I found myself thinking about what it would be like if I were living with a roommate again. The show always brings back memories of dorm days and late-night conversations over cheesecake. I imagined how my friends might react if we were all sharing a space today—probably not too different from the characters on the show.

That night, I was stuck in a sitting position, unable to lower my bed. I had no choice but to figure out how to fix it. My first thought was to call my younger brother. He had the same type of bed, and I knew he’d been through the same learning curve. Plus, I had babysat him for years and attended every Little League game, so I felt entitled to some help. He had even told me I could call him anytime if I needed assistance, though I suspect he didn’t expect me to take him up on that offer.

He sent me text messages with diagrams showing how to adjust the bed. Unfortunately, I hadn’t downloaded the app because I wanted to avoid another complicated technology to deal with. My bed came with a small tablet remote that had all the necessary instructions, and I had been using it for the past few months. But that night, I couldn’t find any way to lower the bed.

After trying to sleep in the upright position, I realized it wasn’t working. I had to get creative. I folded myself into a fetal position under the comforter, which was the only way I could fit on the bed. By morning, I was exhausted and ready for help.

I texted my daughter, who had spent time teaching me how to use the remote. She arrived at my house after work, and I could tell from her expression that she was less than impressed.

“I’m going to be really upset if you fix this in two minutes,” I said as she picked up the remote.

She didn’t even need to look at the instructions. As soon as she pressed the button, the head of the bed lowered. It took less than two minutes.

“Maybe just sleep flat tonight,” she said sweetly.

It was a small victory, but it reminded me that sometimes, the simplest things can cause the biggest headaches. And while I may have gotten the bed back to normal, I still haven’t forgiven my brother for his advice.