Satin sheets ... that we never used

I was looking through the drawers under the bed today, both to see what was in there and to see if I could free up some space to store some sheets and a blanket. In the process, I found a set of red satin sheets, and lots of pain.

You see, those sheets were never used. Michell bought them before we moved to Cookeville, so they are at least three, and probably more like five or six, years old. But they never made it onto the bed.

Why not? Michell had been saving them for a special occasion, a romantic evening on a bed with satin sheets. What kind of event would be worthy of such special treatment? Not an anniversary, or a new job, or even a new house – we had all those things, and none were special enough for the sheets to be used.

As I look back, I am afraid that what she was waiting for was for me to ask. Every few months we would be looking through those drawers, and she would point them out to me, pointing out how she was looking forward to the night we would, eventually, use them. And every time, I would think the same basic thing, “These feel slick and cold. I don’t think they would be very comfortable. I hope we don’t put them on today.” And we never did.

I think she knew I didn’t want to put them on the bed. I always thought that she would convince me someday, or just put them on when I wasn’t there to surprise me with a romantic evening. Every time we looked at them, I tried to prepare myself to react as well as possible when she eventually did put them on. Never did I think that she would die and leave them unused.

If there’s something you’re saving for sometime, someday, when something happens, or when things are just right… stop waiting. If there's something you know your spouse wants but you're resisting... stop resisting. Trust me, you will never regret the decision to go ahead and do things together.

In truth, I have very few regrets following Michell’s death – mostly because she pushed us to do the things we wanted to do together. We took 10 days in Orlando to ride all the best roller coasters. We took a 7-day Alaska cruise, not on our 15th or 20th anniversary like we first planned, because she got it in her head that we should go ahead and go. And I am so glad we went. I don't regret it for an instant. Even though it was at a lousy time (the summer we moved to Cookeville) and caused lots of stress (is that stuff in the temporary apartment, or in storage?), it was still a great trip. I don't regret it at all.

I only regret the things we never did.