The power of goodnight...

When couples break up one routine moment goes away with the relationship...The goodnight. What reminded me of this comforting moment in a relationship has nothing to do with a man. No, I'm not playing for the other team these days, but a woman, an unassuming woman who was probably just doing her job struck a chord when she said goodnight. In a rush to catch the scary movie, The Orphan, my son and I were hurrying out of a department store trying to get to the door before it locked up for the night. Just as we noticed the downfall of rain we'd have to endure before getting to the car; a sweet, caring voice said goodnight. Not come back and see us goodbye or thanks for shopping with us goodnight but a real goodnight with meaning. It was so out of the ordinary that it stopped us and a few of the others behind us. My son turned and looked at me as if to say what was that about? I found myself thinking out loud and said, now that's a statement on the power of saying goodnight and the goodnight call. Behind me a woman said, "You got that right." Off we went to our movie but I kept in mind that many underestimate taking the time to make that call at the right moment, and others who get tired of the routine call or feel it's an obligation are also missing it when it's gone or missing having someone to call in general. When I was getting divorced many years ago, my close friend was going through the same. She'd call me before going to bed to say goodnight. We had already checked in with one another once or twice in the day but she wanted to know she had someone to say goodnight to even if it was just me. If I knew I wouldn't be able to get the call, I'd call her early, check in and say goodnight which she truly appreciated. It made some rough times seem a little less rough. Early in new relationships we can't wait to get that goodnight call and wonder if our phones will ring, and others know the routine after awhile and can't wait to say/hear goodnight. There are those moments when the goodnight call doesn't come and one begins to use it as a sign that something in the relationship isn't quite like it should be. Getting that call can make a peaceful goodnight and the lack of one can cause tossing and turning. As my son and I were leaving the movie, there were a couple of people standing in the hallway making that goodnight call before going into their show. Others were making a call to say stay up, I want to tell you goodnight when the movie is over. Is it about knowing someone is there for you? What if after months go by the person you broke up with calls out of nowhere to tell you goodnight? What kind of moment would that be for you? Would it wipe away all of the problems that were in the relationship? Would it mean someone is getting that the goodnight wasn't just an obligation but held a real connection? Can it bring two people together? Can it keep two people together? A couple of people once wrote in that they want that call when one is on a business trip or vacation, often it's asked is it too much to expect that? I'm sure that the woman who told us goodnight at the end of our department store visit had no idea of the impact of her compound word that evening. Jokingly, in my head I thought what if she had said goodbye instead. If it had hit a chord, would this post be about how a word can remind us of a cold break up? Hmmm....Goodnight - such a powerful word.

©2009 Savannah Jones