On being a mattress

"We could have a conversation," said the mattress. "Would you like that?"

Marvin and the mattress. I hadn’t read it in years, and honestly hadn’t thought about it until a friend started quoting it the other day.

I admire the mattress. There’s something quite satisfying about gently prodding until someone opens up, then just listening and being there, knowing things will work themselves out. On the very rare occasions I do interviews these days, I end with this: What question didn’t I ask that you wanted me to ask?

Sometimes it takes a while to draw it out, but everyone has a question. Everyone has something they want to get on the table. And once the question is out there, the answer follows – sometimes gushing, sometimes dripping, sometimes requiring a little more prodding … but always worth it in the end.

So there’s my lesson for the week, kiddos. Much good can come from being more mattressy, finding a Marvin and digging in your heels. On the other side of the marsh, there are speeches galore – you just have to find them.

“Did it glitter?” enthused the mattress. “It glittered.”
“Did it span the miles majestically?” “It spanned the miles majestically.”
“Did it stretch like a silver thread far out into the invisible mist?”
“Yes,” said Marvin. “Do you want to hear this story?”
"I want to hear your speech," said the mattress.