For several years after water beds became popular, I decided it would be a great thing for Wayne and I to have one. Both of us had joint problems as well as aching backs. I had tried water beds when we visited our children, but I did not care for the wave movement when I tried to turn over when the water sloshed around in the bladder. In the early 1990’s, when the Flotation Water Bed Mattress’s became popular, I purchased an expensive one from Wards. It had a mesh batting inside that prevent excessive water movement. It was so unlike the regular bladder kind that we had tried. Both Wayne and I enjoyed this new bed. The heated mattress was great in the winter time and nice and cool for summer when we adjusted the heat.

One day, sometime during the day, the mattress bladder sprang a leak. It was alright, as far as we knew, the last time we slept on it. That particular night, Wayne went to bed first and found it was wet when he sat down on the bed. He got up and went to sleep in the guest room, not saying a word to me that anything was amiss. I wondered why he went to the guest room, but since he did that on occasion when he was uncomfortable, I never gave it a second thought. I never turn on a light in our bedroom when I go to bed, because the night light shows the way. I pulled back the blanket and hopped into bed to get the surprise of my life. I sunk down into two or more inches of water. My back was completely soaked.

I quickly got up as mad as an old wet hen at Wayne for not telling me about it. I dried off, changed my gown then headed for the guest room. I found Wayne in bed, still awake waiting for my entry and laughing at what he knew would happen. He said he wondered how long it would be before I joined him. I was not a happy camper about him letting me get an unexpected water bath.