Died and gone to heaven
I was married 8 years before moving into a house. Apartment living kept us dry and out of the elements, but we dreamed of the day we could have some luxuries only home owners enjoyed. For instance, doing laundry at the apartment was a pain. We had to carry our clothes a long distance, pump bad machines full of quarters, and endure waiting for dryers to be available. I could write an entire post about this topic. Eventually, though, we moved into a house. The house had a washer and dryer. We no longer needed quarters. We did not have to wait on people or race to be first anymore. We thought we'd died and gone to heaven.
I was born with cataracts, which have rendered me legally blind. I wore thick thick glasses until I was a junior in high school. When I got contact lenses, I no longer looked like a Japanese radioman from WWII. After a while (23 years) my eyes no longer tolerated contacts so I had lens implant surgery. The result is I can see (the same) without having to fuss with glasses or contacts. No more expensive contact lens solution, no more losing contacts, no more worries about how late I am going to be out and how it will effect my eyes. When I think about this I feel like I died and went to heaven.
One winter we were without hot water for a few days, but we got it back.
Several hurricanes have knocked out our power for a day or two, but it was reconnected.
Our AC has broken about this time of year and the inside of the house became a sauna, but we got it fixed.
Our sewer once backed up and flooded our bedroom, but we cleaned it up.
I have been sick and injured, but I healed.
My job situation over the years has become very stressful, even abusive, but they always got better.
And perhaps worst of all, my DSL modem broke and I went a week without the Internet.
All of these things were problems that when solved left me feeling like I had died and gone to heaven.
It is funny how when something good happens to us we are grateful, but in time that gratitude turns to an expectation. What was first a luxury or a dream becomes something expected and eventually taken for granted. Only when we lose it are we reminded of its value - a treasure lost.
I don't see anything wrong with this process. It is only natural to get used to something and not praise it daily. Infatuation for another does not stay at the initial emotional intensity. The trap to me is when we are not aware of the process. If we are not aware, we move through life with in insatiable appetite. We seem to live by the philosophy advertised on t-shirts that says, "Whoever dies with the most toys wins." The truth is we are never completely satisfied with stuff, but it is fun to get stuff.
Life is much more than acquiring a better home, car, clothes, and jewelry. I think we can do some of both; Get stuff and have that "died and gone to heaven" feeling once in a while AND be grateful for what we have in between.
The best thing is that some day I will die and wake up in heaven.
Until the next time
John Strain