The Joys and Discomforts of Sleeping on a Trampoline

“Oh, Jerry, don’t let’s ask for the moon. We have the stars.”
                                                        – Bette Davis in Now, Voyager

I have to thank a buddy of mine named Tim for this. I met Tim at a real estate seminar and we immediately connected. We sat next to each other and chatted during breaks. The seminar was out of town, so, my family traveled with me.

Tim spent time with us in the evening and actually played catch with my 2 year old. Tim was quite impressed with the way my boy (Luke) answered,”Ball, ball” for most any question asked him. After the seminar Tim and I stayed in contact. Being that he lived only about a three hour drive he would come and visit on occasion. On one such occasion he showed up unannounced early in the morning. My wife woke me and told me that Tim had ‘dropped’ in. I mumbled something and fell back asleep. Sure enough when I crawled out of bed Tim was there. He spent the day with us and I offered him a spare bed for the night. A bed would have been good for most. But, not for Tim. He insisted that he would sleep on the trampoline in the backyard. It should have come as no surprise. Tim had slept on the roadside in the grass on the way back from the seminar. He was a little tight on money but I think he would have done it anyhow. Some people may sleep on the side of the road or on a trampoline for effect. But, others are like Tim. And, Tim is Tim. At least the trampoline was a step up from the grass.

Tim was content, but, my wife and I thought this a little awkward. We envisioned neighbors calling to report a man sleeping on our trampoline, the swat team surrounding our house, Tim being found near death from the mosquitoes attacking him ferociously throughout the night. Strange thing though. None of this happened. Well, he may have gotten some blood drained (Indiana in the summer . . . joy, joy). Another thing happened. My children thought Tim was cool. Real cool.

Tim left and time passed. My children didn’t forget though. In fact, they wouldn’t let me forget. “Dad, will you sleep on the trampoline with us?” It sounded fun but I wasn’t sure how to get it in the house. Alas, the delays were no longer working. It was time. I sprayed the lawn to ward off and warn. I hung a sign that read, ‘Rare blood type. Please do not drink.’ We spent time seeing who would be the first to spot a shooting star or UFO. I won. We snuggled under the sleeping bags and fell into a deep contented sleep. Smiles all around. Even on me.

We live but once. So get out there and live it, and live it loud!

Remember, you are the only you, you have!