Friday, February 27, 2009

Pillow Talk


So 1950s. Remember the Doris Day and Rock Hudson movie?


The Pillow Talk I'm referring to is the way we, humans, talk our pillows into putting us to a good sleep. Pillows make a sleep, as in clothes make a man. If not then, why are there so many special pillows in the market today?


In the olden days, pillows were filled with all sorts of things - kapok, feathers, cotton, etc. When we were small and vacationing in our province, we used to sleep on "hard pillows." Parang sangkalan sa tigas. Later on, Dolphy in John N' Marsha would be using either a sangkalan or a kawali as his pillows for the night.


Today, when you go to a department store and check out the Bed and Bath section, you will be amazed at the wide range of the pillows available. There are the average rectangular ones, the ones we're accustomed to using. Then there are the longish, sausage-like pillows which are as long as your entire body. Then, there are those odd-shape and odd-textured pillows: round, bone-like, extra soft, extra hard, the ones with the sunk mid-section, and those with memory - they remember your head and body shape the way you've sunk them in.

If one is married, the spouse becomes a second or third pillow. When you turn to her/his side, you unconciously hug and drape your legs over her/him.


If you are single, your entire bed becomes fortress-like, surrounded by pillows, protected from imaginary night intruders. This reminds me of the way birds go to sleep. With canaries, or budgies, if they are not hatching their eggs, they choose a spot or a perch in the cage which is backing onto either the cage wall or a feeder. This makes them feel safe; no one can come near or attack them from behind.


I myself, sleep with three pillows under my head; this is due to the fact that I have sleep apnea so I feel breathing is easier when my head is propped up. For this purpose, I have one regular thick pillow and two special ones. The second is thick with a sunken middle, and the third is a TV-ordered soft pillow that transforms itself into whatever shape your head sinks it into. Having such a unique trio of a pillow, I find it hard to sleep when I travel since I cannot bring them into the hotel(s).


The market is also flooded with "naughty-looking pillows." These are the ones shaped like the upper torso of a female or male. I believe they've been designed for those with absent spouses or those without partners. By the way, the Urban Dictionary refers to "naughty pillow" as female breasts.





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