Trading Places Dr. Juan Harrison

She grabbed one corner of the fitted sheet while I grabbed the other.  We popped it open, squeezed it onto the mattress, and grabbed the other end.  Voila!  The flat sheet was easy as we topped it off with the comforter followed by some regular pillows, fat pillow shams, and a couple of dozen, more or less, decorative pillows.  Don’t ask me, I’m just a guy.  I realize I really dislike making the bed by myself as I rassle with the stupid fitted sheet that I’ve probably got wrong side out.  It’s just a whole lot easier chore when Sweetie helps.

Down the hall I hear her holler out, “I’ve got a couple of chores for you.” Brimming with excitement, I grab the onions and start peeling, getting them ready for the food chopper for meat loaf.  The chopper doesn’t want to cooperate, but finally gives in.  Then, on to the potatoes for a peeling good time as I slice em for the roast for us and her semi-shut in dad who tries to avoid all the viruses out there that can threaten his old ticker.

I’ve read about all the struggles rich and famous folks have as they try to go out for a simple family dinner but are besieged by fans and the media.  I’m not sure that’s what those folks had in mind when they started on the journey to fame and riches.  Steve Harvey, a TV workaholic, publicly lamented his loss of privacy and a normal life that accompanied all his fame and glory.

I’m on record telling you that I think we way undervalue the daily blessings we have as just plain regular folks, especially if we’ve got a friend or family member to share the journey with us.  Simple things like making a bed together or putting together a couple of meals to share with Sheri’s dad along with a little conversation and one-on-one quality time with his daughter.

In the lonely times no one has to tell us that we should have valued or cherished that sweet time of communion we had and may be missing now as silence reverberates off the walls.  Hindsight is 20-20.  Too bad we couldn’t adjust our spectacles a tad when we were in one of them Leave It To Beaver with Ward and June or a Norman Rockwell moment to grasp how valuable the moment, how rich the feeling of sharing.  Too many times, we let them slip right by us, never to be seen again.  True riches.  True wealth.  Peace of mind.  If you had one of those blessings of sharing life with a great partner, take a moment and smile.  If you still have one now, have another smile.  I think there’s a lot of rich folks out in Hollywood who might wanna trade places with you.

By Dr. Juan Harrison