What I Learned from Motel 6 and Tom Bodett

I do not remember when I first heard the Motel 6 advertisements in which Tom Bodett says "We'll leave the light on" http://www.motel6.com/about/bodett.aspx but more than 20 ago, according to that website.

So, when I started hearing Tom Bodett's name mentioned on "Car Talk" http://www.cartalk.com/ and "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me, " http://www.npr.org/programs/wait-wait-dont-tell-me/ it just had to be the same Tom Bodett as the Motel 6 advertising spokesperson.  And it is.

I cannot tell you why their advertising campaigns are so popular. But the signature line "We'll leave the light on" speaks to me, so I suspect it speaks to a lot of people.  After all, what can be more inviting than to know that someone is waiting for you.  That's what families do.  Most families represent unconditional love and the knowledge that someone will anticipate your arrival or return, with open arms.  That is so important to all of us.