I was at the Eye Doctor yesterday getting a new prescription for my bifocals, talk about my dry eye I’ve developed and ask if losing (because I can’t see them anymore) my upper eye lids can affect my vision.

Alright so maybe I was feeling my age today and that looming big number in a few days didn’t help my state of mind.

While staring into my dilated eyes my Doctor informed me that I have the eyes of a very young person, alright maybe I just added “very,”

Isn’t it crazy how sometimes the smallest compliment can just make your day.

Try it and watch the reaction on a person’s face, it’s pretty amazing.

I was starting to feel downright embarrassed about my multiple trips to Bed Bath and Beyond and my craziness about finding the perfect pillow.

It just wasn’t right!”  I was starting to feel like Bed Bath and Beyond would put me on some type of a black list, a pillow black list!  I was starting to feel like I would never find my “perfect pillow,” what’s a girl to do?  A sad girl without her pillow, I was desperate!

I was on my I-pad, yes,  actually doing google searches for at least an hour or so.   I can’t be the only person who has major pillow problems.  I was very happy to see there are a lot of us out there, I’m not alone which did bring me some comfort.  I swear I have woken up with a headache almost every morning for years it feels like.  It’s always at the base of my head where my neck is, sometimes these headaches will last for days.  It really is miserable…

I was telling Dale – why isn’t there just a “pillow store?” I started thinking about mattress companies and remembered the commercials for the Sleep Number Bed and how you set the mattress for your specific number that works best for you.  I wondered – Did they make a pillow for your particular needs?  I pulled up their site and saw they did have an adjustable pillow and there was a store very close to home  http://www.sleepnumber.com/.  It was like I was at the Indy 500 racing to what I like to call my “pillow store.”

I walked into the Sleep Number Store and was helped by one of the sales ladies.  I told her all my issues – position I go to sleep in, type of bed I have, type of pillows I’ve used, where my headaches are located.  And she said,  get this, “it sounds like you’re using the wrong pillow!”  Finally, validation!

I saw the adjustable pillow but was told it would be to firm for me, I’d still get headaches.  She told me you can customize your own pillow with Sleep Number.

Introducing…

I wanted to scream with excitement when I saw this display.  I can create my own “perfect pillow.”  I felt like I was at the Build a Bear Workshop for adults.

I spent a good portion of time selecting the perfect material for the outside portion.  I ended up with an “Alternate Down” outer, and a “Real Down” inner.  These pillows all have an opening where you choose your own insides – check it out!

I’m happy to say that I am in love with my new pillow.  If you have any similar “issues” check these pillows out.

Dale is crying now that he needs a new pillow too.

I have always had “issues” and I guess you could say “obsessions” with my pillows. I’m not ashamed to say that as an adult I have flown with my bed pillow on an airplane. I have attempted to be an adult and fly solo (no pillow) but have almost felt like crying when I’ve tried every pillow at the hotel and none of them cut it. They are too hard, too soft and never just right. Are you quick enough reader, did you get the comparison to Goldilocks and the three bears? I’ve also got issues with only sleeping on the right side of the bed, but that’s a whole different story.

I was busy running around this morning getting the last of my suitcase packed up for my vacation that starts today, heading back East to see the family.

It was much earlier than I normally get up (around 5:15 a.m.) and as I glance out the front window I  see the dark clouds floating around the blue/black sky with the street lights casting a warm glow.  I’m not outside but I can feel the quiet and I’m transported back in time.

I’m 20 years old and in Air Force Basic Training marching around with my troop at dawn with the dark clouds and that same blue/black sky, the street lights casting their warm glow.  The air is so quiet and the only sounds you hear are a hundred pairs of combat boots hitting the pavement.

I marched out into the living room and shouted to Dale (*) Road Guards Out.”

I love that we have a shared history and he gets that, it made me smile this morning.

* This is something the Drill Sargent would yell out and two soldiers would run up to the upcoming street crossing with their flashlights with the Star Wars green laser covers so we could cross the street in safety.  The funny thing was there was never any traffic this damn early.