First, I have to tell you that I am endlessly obsessed with finding the right pillow for sleeping. I have spent years prodding and testing pillows, and then bringing them home, only to find that they aren’t the perfect pillow after all. Sigh.
Some of the less-perfect pillows make it to my bed as extra pillows. Many other of these hopeful candidates are soon relegated to the sofa or closet, nervously awaiting the next batch that may wind up sending them to the trash bin.
But every now and then, I find some pillows that feel really good – at least to me. Not too firm. Not too soft. Just enough support to keep my neck happy. Still not THE perfect pillow, perhaps, but really really good. And these pillows get immediately elevated to the sacred spot on the bed where my head gets placed at night.
So it was for two “down alternative” Charisma pillows that my acupuncturist (and friend) got for me from Costco at the end of last year. Her husband had originally found this brand for her (a package of 2 for $20!), she also being a pillow seeker. And since then, they have been my go-to pillows for sleeping. The two pillows together are just perfect for me, and even more so after some months have passed.
But First a Word About Costco
No…this is not a paid advertisement. In fact, I used to laugh at my cousin who was always raving about all the things she got at Costco, even food. “Aren’t there any other stores out there in the suburbs?” I teased. It seemed so much less interesting to me than all the wonderful little urban neighborhood stores I go to, especially for things like poultry or fish or fruit & veggies.
But then, when I received the gift of the pillows, I was won over. “Costco must indeed me a wondrous place,” I thought. It was just around that time that a Trader Joe’s moved to my neighborhood, and I discovered yet another wondrous place that I had once eschewed. But I do digress.
And now to Friendship
Today, two friends I met about a year ago (I picked them up on the subway as they were returning from a May Day protest, but that’s another story), called me from Costco to ask if I wanted some more of the Charisma pillows that I had mentioned just the day before. They were on sale for a little over $12 for two of them!!!
It’s hard for me to get to the semi-local Costco, since I don’t drive; and my friends, who have access to a car, know this. But the fact that they remembered and made this part of their Costco adventure today, brought a huge smile to my face. Furthering their kindness, they dropped off the package of brand new pillows on their way home. And now two saggy old pillows (sorry guys) from the other side of the bed have been relegated to the trash bin. And the new ones? They have joined their brothers and sisters on the bed of honor.
As much as I love the relief these pillows give my neck (compared to so many other pillows I’ve tried over the years), I love even more that they all got to me with a little help from my friends.
And now…a little help from Joe Cocker:
UPDATE AND REVIEW: It’s been four months now since I bought my first Charisma pillows at Costco. I had read some reviews online saying that these pillows are great until about 4 months, when they start to lose their firmness. And I have to say that in my experience it’s true. The original ones are no longer as full & firm, and have started to form sections just a bit.
But, using two together, I can still get a good night’s sleep. Even better, I add one of the new ones to an original pillow. So far, I still recommend them (since they are so inexpensive and initially better than pillows I have paid 3 times the price for), but I would definitely suggest buying a few extra packages to mix and match when they start to lose their initial bounce.
what a happy, fluffy story. i know how important sleep and comfort are, and can certainly appreciate your quest for the perfect pillows.
Thanks for dropping by, Beth! Hope you are well.
Ah yes…the perfect pillow. I think my dream bedroom would be filled with pillows of all sizes and shapes – and nothing else. But that might make my favorite pillows feel insecure.
My my my what a warm story to share and I am laughing as I write this. Ah the wonders of simple pleasures. Nothing like a little bit of comfort and love in this strange world we live in. Enjoy the new pillows!
What a beautiful comment! Thank you, Cuz. I had you in mind as I wrote this, not only because of Costco, but because of all the gifts (the least of which are material) that you’ve given me in my life.
lovely story and I too am a seeker of the perfect pillow. My current pillows are poor poor things and do their best but they aren’t even in the perfect ballpark.
I stayed with some friends a few years ago in Germany and the pillow on their bed was – perfection.
I mentioned their perfect pillow, and when I left to fly home, they had vaccum sealed it to fit into my case!
That’s good friends for you – and – they had paid for me to come visit them!
Lost the pillow a few years ago and am still on the search here in Dublin where we don’t have Costco.
Aaaah…that’s a lovely story, too. Thanks, Liz. Makes me want to go with you to Germany to visit your friends – and not just for the pillow! Good luck with your search in Dublin. It is a noble quest.
First, we love Costco. Not only do we get cool buys (when we shop wisely) there, but they treat their employees well. They are the anti-Walmart. Second, you’ve got pillows now, but a good way to test them in stores is to find a wall, place the pillow on it and rest your head against it. Not a perfect simulation of lying in bed with it, perhaps, but much closer than just manhandling it.
I love learning that Costco treats their employees well. They’ve just risen way higher on my store-approval ladder. Also appreciate your cool pillow testing method. I sometimes try sneaking the pillow onto a mattress (if there’s one around) and getting myself positioned for a real test, but it doesn’t work all that well since I feel so on display and can’t relax into the test. And the plastic wrap (plus no pillow cover – they do matter) makes any test less-than satisfying. Glad to have a new way to go now. Thanks!