When we left the subject of our mattress, the status of it had not yet been determined. I had pumped it up firmly and that is where things stood.

Well. I checked it after an hour or two, and ’twas most decidedly not firm. Hypothesis: leak. Method of observation: remove mattress to main floor. Pump up. Squish mattress while listening carefully for escaping air.

Conclusion: It’s Dead, Jim! One of the seams had split in a place not easily patched.

So….mattress go bye bye. Which leaves us with nowhere to sleep. So, after sundown, we headed into town to purchase a new one. And boy, was that an exercise in frustration. Being a seasonal item, air mattresses were not on the shelves. And being the store that it is, there is no one there to help you. And if you DO find an employee, they turn around and head into the back room and are never seen again. Finally, tired of chasing phantom employees, we went to customer service. Showed them the listing on their own website, including the product number and price. Waited 15 minutes while someone was traced down and sent into the warehouse to fetch the product. Product is brought out, we go to cash, they ring in the item, and it is 3x the price it should be. Check the item number. Wrong item. So, we wait another half hour while two more persons are sent into the warehouse after the desired product. Eventually, one person returns, not with the double air mattress we asked for, but with one twin and one Queen air mattress instead. No, I’m sorry, that will not do. A Queen will not fit the space, and a twin will not fit two people.

It took an hour and 4 employees, but finally the correct product was located and rung up. This particular store is known for not being able to finds its tuchas with both hands on a bright sunny day, but this was by far the worst demonstration so far.

We didn’t quite miss our dinner reservations. We were far closer to the time than either of us is comfortable with, but we did make it to the restaraunt for our first date night in 6 months that involved food that someone else cooked and cleaned up after. Twas a lovely evening.

Once home, we had a new mattress to blow up and then the doublewide coffin (aka sleeping loft) needed to be set up again. I hate it up there. Claustrophobia. Sleeping is okay. Trying to do anything else is panic city. So husband played Sir Galahad and did the set up.

Tomorrow the kiddos come home.