The Duct Cleaning Narrative

We had never done it, nor did we think we had to. Most people hadn't thought of it so why bother now? The thought of strangers, mostly men, walking through my house while 'checking on' the heating vents being cleaned had me thinking, in a most unseemly way,”Could they be casing the joint for future access? Such silliness.

Duct cleaning service had arrived a few weeks after the installation of a smaller state-of-the-art electric furnace, a more efficient user of electricity and with it, an outside heat pump. (“Living better electrically” is a lie started in the 60's, when this form of energy was cheap and in plentiful supply). Other heating choices had been considered then dismissed. Too risky, in my opinion. It had been over 30 years since we moved in. The original heating system had been a few years old then so it was time. With electricity costs sky high, a new one would be more efficient, smaller and less costly to operate.We were satisfied.

I had began to move objects and furniture out of the way of the floor vents. With a large hose moving about, throughout the house, I wanted my efforts to make things easier for the technicians. I covered this and that in case dust and other flight bound objects might land creating for me a cleaning nightmare later. Dusting is so time consuming. I am very particular how I do it. No cleaning company would do. Then there was the seeming intrusion into our lives. Some items were personal, not for eyes of a stranger.

The day had arrived. I was uneasy. With two dogs afoot, the noise and annoyance factor shot up ten fold. But at least security was here. Two men alighted from their nearly new mega van. A conversation began with my husband. He remained till I felt comfortable. A son once remarked, many years ago, that I would be fine anywhere men congregated. I understood what he meant. Surrounded by males all my life, then being the mom to three sons, set the standard for me, a Green Beret code of parenting. But as these gentlemen entered the house, I knew we were in good hands. Mr. Wiggles and Sally, his energetic 10 year old canine sister greeted them with enthusiasm and calm - while ensconced within their respective leashes. With all ceremonial introductions completed, I could now relax knowing my canine concerns had been lifted. My 'team' had decided. These 'suspicious' characters had met their criteria. All was good.

The trail of wide flexible hoses, threaded throughout our house, gave clear evidence that a massive cleaning operation was underway. I asked questions as this newest twist on housecleaning began. How often should this be done? Why are you using these lengthy finger-like metal projectiles inside the vent? My learning curve had expanded. ... Every two-three years, to help loosen any dust or debris adhering to the inside of the duct work. Each vent had a magnetic cover to keep the dust of that particular room contained as the hose managed to pull the particulates from an adjacent space. It all made sense to me.

As these gentlemen moved about, they never forgot to take off their boots. I had wondered about that step. Walking throughout my house without removing shoes would sound the death knell for future visits. Who knew what horrible things lie in wait beneath these warrior boots? But my fears were groundless as each technician removed footwear with each re-entry. The appointment lasted under 4-5 hours, I think, made painless because of their professionalism, caring and respectful manner. The dogs had been acclimated to the company otherwise alot of noise would have resulted during this time. It was as though friends were visiting. Freshly made orange juice was offered. It was a hot day after all and they deserved it.

So here I am totally satisfied and comforted by the excellent job done, with pictures to show before and after, inside our floors. Our 'house' was not the dirtiest. Thinking that a long gravel driveway, the dust and dirt of country living, along side 'fireplace' heat might be the culprits in our internal dusty malaise, I was surprised to learn it was none of those. Our pets and the fur they wore were most at fault. Well, now I understood. The invoice would go to them. Made sense to me.

Mr. "MyPillow"

The idea came to me as I watched this latest tv intrusion for MyPillow. Funny how this innocuous sleeping thing can pivot us towards our healthy futures. And so I waited for it to be over, but with an interest and intensity never before felt as the newest twist on MyPillow, the Roll and Go Anywhere began to unfold. Was this history in the making?

The inventor of MyPillow appeared in his latest commercial extolling the virtues of a smaller pillow for children. He was the well known pillow man, the man responsible for better sleep but now encouraging children down this healthy path. In this latest clip, he was engaging with children, all playing with and throwing around smaller versions of 'his pillow', the new Roll-and-GoAnywhere version. A mountain of these smaller pillows were being used as giant lego-like blocks, the iconic toy of the past, to build walls or mountains outside, in a colourful landscape as the youngsters ran and jumped about. It was then he announced that the children could keep as many pillows as they could carry. They were aglow with excitement. Away they went! Later, in a scene reminiscent of so many taking place in the family van, the very young actors could be seen sleeping on their pillows while in vehicles being driven by their parents. Was a good habit, the foundation of future health, in the making? I began to wonder.

Up to this moment I was watching a new commercial, Best Day Ever for MyPillow. A few months ago, the inventor, Mr. Lindell, had been a guest on the hit show, Life, Levin and Liberty, telling the host, Mark Levin and his audience, his life of drug abuse as a young man. He had hit bottom. I was shocked. Here was a man who had pulled himself out of the deepest of despair to become the household name and face of MyPillow, the gold standard of all. (I was already tired of seeing his commercials, a seeming never ending reality show). But I was impressed with this man's rise to fame and health from a common abyss. He was now being featured on a well-known talk show. I could not believe my senses!

Last year, on Tucker Carlson Tonight, the host had met with a gaggle of high-tech industry giants to discuss the rise in depression and teen suicide. What were they talking about? These men of industry were concerned business men as well as fathers. Teens' hand held devices were holding court over them. Sleep was in serious jeopardy. Important calls or texts were too important to miss. Depression was on the rise. Society's wake-up call had arrived. Then I watched the Roll and GoAnywhere commercial and it all made sense.

A minimum of 7-8 hours of deep restorative sleep is required for healing the mind and body. Without sufficient sleep, brain's executive function, among other things, is greatly affected in a multitude of ways. Could this newest MyPillow phenomenon, the RollandGoAnywhere, be the antidote for sleep deprivation, beginning in childhood, where parental power has its greatest influence on children? Good habits begin somewhere! If children are shown the importance of sleep during critical phases of their development, then perhaps sleep's significance will be honoured and maintained throughout life. Yes, I thought!

If the overuse and dependency of modern media, places our teens at risk, then we, as their parents, must get to them first, in childhood. Could the simple pillow be a clinical first step? The animal kingdom needs sleep to survive. But try getting a small child to bed for his customary daily nap or nighttime ritual and see the resistance. Maybe the inventor of My Pillow, who's been in our peripheral line of vision, since the beginning, might be on to something. Introducing children to a 'device' that makes them happy, has play value, anywhere, while encouraging sleep, could be the turning point in a health crisis that has no end. 

Sleep is a critical element of the human condition. Perhaps we should be taking heed of pillow's curative value, this miracle medical 'device', in the lives of children. Maybe, the Roll and GoAnywhere could be the start of something monumental, a great beginning in the right direction.