Enjoying Love, Health And Sleep With A Pink And Orange Glow
By: Brian Dickens Barrabee
Tags: Family, Light, Gifts, Daughters, Humor

I thought I’d keep it glowing for a couple of nights, tell my daughter it was wonderful and gradually phase it out if it was too burdensome.

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I got the notice in early October. There was a package in the mail room.

Always a delight to get a package, I was curious as to what it could be. Not one to shop on line, my birthday was in early September and Christmas wasn’t until it’s usual time.

Braving the elevators in my high rise as seldom as possible because of social distancing, I tried to find out whether the package was worthy of risking life and lung to retrieve.

What was in it?

I immediately thought of the giver of the most thoughtful gifts in anyone’s lifetime — my daughter. If it didn’t come from her directly, maybe she could help track down my benefactor.

She’s in Seattle and I’m in Philadelphia so I waited out the 3 hour time difference and gave her a call early afternoon EST.

After ascertaining that everyone has retained their health; we got down to business.

Me: “I got a notice that I had a package in the mail room today; did you send anything recently?”

Jesse: “Only your birthday present but that was in September.”

To not receive a present from her would be uncharacteristic. However, with a catering service, restaurant, two kids, house and husband, not to mention the challenges the coronavirus brings; I would be more than understanding if she skipped this year.

Jesse: “It may be my birthday present! I never got a notice that it was delivered.”

I asked her what it was; I may have already been in receipt of it and — uhhhh forgot?

Jesse excitedly:It’s a Himalayan Salt Lamp, Dad!

Silence on my end……

My daughter, in the catering and restaurant business often sends me food that can survive the rigors of the cross country mail trip. Possibly salted almonds?

Salted Lamps?

Me cautiously, trying not to show my lack of need for another lamp in my cramped two bedroom: Lamp? Errr — how big. I realize later I should have used the word “awesome” instead of “big.”

Jesse disappointedly: “You’ll like it Dad. Give it a try!”

When I pick up the package in the mail room, it was not what I expected a lamp box to look like. It was a cubic foot.

Aren’t lamps supposed to be long and skinny?

Back in the condo I set about opening the tightly packed box.

What it contained was like no other “lamp” I’ve ever seem.

The 3 most hated words in the English language were mercifully not necessary because the Himalayan Salt Lamp was assembled — ready to go.

The brief printed description described the lamp a possessing the ability to:

Purify the air in your home Reduce asthma symptoms Remove humidity Reduces radiation Looks great Make breathing easier Improve sleep Increase energy Improve your mood Stress reduction Better performance of tasks Longevity

IS THAT ALL?

The fact that my daughter bestowed this birthday gift upon me was main reason I plugged it in along with my clock radio on the only space available; the night stand by my bed. It lit up with a satisfying warm orange, pink glow.

I thought that I’d keep it glowing for a couple of nights, tell my daughter it was wonderful and gradually phase it out if it was too burdensome.

I’m a light sleeper by nature, if the damn thing didn’t keep me up, I’d count it as a plus.

I slept well that night — and the next — and the next.

I arrived at the astounding determination that it didn’t keep me awake.

It’s been almost 2 months now and I’ve grown quite fond of my Himalayan Salt Lamp.

My personal verdict isn’t in yet on whether it can:purify my air, reduce asthma, decrease humidity, reduce radiation, allow me to breath easier, increase my energy, improve my mood, reduce my stress, perform tasks more efficiently. And I’m certainly not in a position to determine whether I’ve lived longer.

I look at my Himalayan Salt Lamp as being an insurance policy.

The other day, I called my daughter to tell her how much I was enjoying the lamp she gave me for my birthday. I jokingly said that I’d return the favor for her birthday.

She laughed, delighted that I was enjoying her gift; that I seemed to be perpetually able to appreciate some of the 1980s New Age aspects of life.

I already have them in every room in the house, Dad!