Front Porch: Hunting for a bed is an exercise in patience

For those who’ve asked and wondered, the bed still sleeps splendidly. This is the follow-up to the No. 1 question I’ve gotten as a columnist, one I’ve answered twice this week.

“Remind me what kind of bed you raved about again? Asking for a friend. Okay, and me, too,” wrote a friend on Facebook, where I often post links to this column.

She remembered the March 2013 musing I wrote about the onerous, Goldilocks-like experience Curtis and I had bed shopping and the fairytale bed we eventually bought.

Based on response over the last eighteen months, a lot of readers could relate.

“We’ve all lived through this experience,” a reader named Sarah wrote about bed-shopping. “I think it ranks right up near the top of the list of detestable activities with the new car Showroom Shuffle, finding a new doctor, and finding a new hairdresser!”

Others wrote with recommendations for my husband’s restless leg syndrome, such as putting soap under the sheets, but many it seems, are sleepless in Spokane.

“I have not had a good night’s sleep in seven years.  I ache every morning getting up,” wrote Mary.

“I am also the princess and the pea and would love to minimize waking up in the night and wake up rested! Please tell me the brand and specifics of the mattress you purchased! Please, Please, Please!!!” wrote Pat.

Almost every reader shared the same sentiment.

“I enjoyed your bed-seeking Front Porch column this morning, but found it frustrating not to find any answers at the end! We, too, need a new bed, and have lain on many in a continuing search. It would be soooo helpful to know,” wrote Susie.

When writing articles I always try to anticipate and answer the obvious questions, but a column is another story. I’d left out those all-important facts about the bed that makes me sleep better than a baby because I haven’t wanted even a hint of endorsement or advertising in this space.

Also, I felt bed buying was too personalized a preference to generalize. You have to lay in your own bed to know what works for you.

But this column isn’t just about sharing my perspective on the world around me, the view from my front porch. It’s about connecting with my community. I love to hear from readers and how they feel about what I’ve written, whether it’s about parenting, pets, coffee, running or any of the other ideas that have captured my attention the week this column is due.

Sometimes I anticipate feedback, like the time I suggested schools were raising helicopter parents through the Home Access system or the time I bemoaned some of the sports parent drama I’ve witnessed on the sidelines.

Other times I’m surprised when a column hits a chord. Who knew so many of you don’t scrapbook either?

Whether you agree with me or not, how you see the world from your own front porch interests me. I want to hear your stories and questions. That’s why, when readers email me about their cats or their kids or their sleepless nights, I always try to email back, if only to say, “thanks for reading.” And if you have a question, like what brand of bed I bought, I’ll answer it. Just email me. I hope you’ll keep reading, too.