We bought new IPhones a couple of years ago and the old one was sitting around. When my son in California heard that, he asked if we would mail it to his father-in-law to use, after which he would sell it on ebay for us. It sounded like a plan. Lukas texted me the address and I headed to the post office fifteen minutes before it closed for the weekend. As I was packing it up another person arrived in line behind me. I dislike keeping people waiting and got flustered about how long I was taking. Quickly I put the phone in the little box and the little box in the medium box, with the label and postage, thanked the post lady and gathered up my things from the counter.

 

I headed out for a couple of other errands, and when I got to the bank I checked my phone for messages.

 

"AAAAAAKKKK!" I had mailed the wrong phone!! I zoomed back to the post office, thinking I should call John to beat me to the post office before it closed but oops... my phone was at the bottom of a pile of packages headed for Colorado. I drove as fast as I dared and screeched into the parking lot. There was one car left. I banged on the door and called. 

 

"Maria!!! I know you are closed, but I mailed the wrong phone!!!" She unlocked the door and poked her head out. 

 

"I am so sorry but could I change the phone in that package I just sent? Please?" She was clearly annoyed but she let me into the secret room where packages are kept before the truck swallows them up, and she dug through the pile until she found it. I thanked her and opened the box, snatched out my dear phone and replaced it with the old one. I even kissed it.

 

"Thank you so much!!" I let out a sigh of relief and went back to doing errands.

 

But do I? Deserving creeps into marriage, and can erode our sense of gratitude. I am more grateful for my phone today than I was last week. Losing it brought that sentiment up from the bottom of the pile. Coming close to losing your marriage can also be the occasion for a spike in gratitude.

 

I just read an article about how couples in distress can separate for a few months, as a means of reconciliation. In the case of one therapist, it brought healing to half of the marriages who tried it. One couple lasted three months and then he moved back home. I bet they kissed.

 

But you can use a simpler version. Just announce that you are escaping to Colorado, and then hide yourself in a big box with a ribbon.