Things That Go "Bump" In The Night

Sleep is a very valuable commodity at my house. The ability to do it soundly is something that I gave up when I became a mother. My husband and I are like superheros: at the slightest sound from upstairs, we can be up and on our feet in seconds. A few nights ago, we were both sleeping as soundly as we are able when we were both startled out of our slumber by the same loud thud. It's not unusual for me to wake up in the middle of the night, but it takes something pretty impressive to wake him up.
I could feel my heart pounding in my chest while I tried to deduce where the sound had come from. Maybe it was a dream. No, that can't be right. It woke him up, too. Oh my gosh, what if there's someone in the house?!
Me: What was that?
Husband: I dunno.
Me: Well, did you hear it?
Husband: Am I awake? Yeah, I heard it!
Me: What if there's someone in the house?
Husband: The dogs didn't bark.
Me: That's really what you're going with? (He has a lot more faith in that pack of "watchdogs" than I do!)
I swear, if a burglar walked up on our porch, the Corgis would ask him for something to eat and the German Shepherd would show him where the key was. So after some more convincing, my big, strong, manly man of a husband stumbled out of bed and retrieved the pistol from the closet. "Stay there." Um, yeah, no problem.
After what seemed like hours, he came back to the bedroom and announced that the doors were all locked from inside, all of the children were safe in their beds, and he could find absolutely nothing to explain the crash. "And all of the dogs are still asleep on the porch." Oh, good. I feel so much better now!
When I heard him coming back downstairs all I could think was: gee, I hope the kids didn't wake up. I'm thinking that waking up to a man in your bedroom wearing his underwear and carrying a pistol is probably something you will need to discuss with your therapist at a later date.
Naturally, I had trouble going back to sleep. I spent hours going over potential causes for the crash in my head. Thunder? A picture falling off the wall? Pots and pans falling off the rack over the stove? A thief who had hidden himself from my husband and was still in the house? A dream? No, not a dream, stupid. You both woke up. So it had to be something. But what? It was going to drive me crazy until I figured it out.
Obviously, we all survived the night. The next morning, I walked into our bathroom...and found the culprit! I am slightly ashamed and more than a little amused that my husband pulled a gun on a TOWEL RING. Several weeks ago, I bought some really cool wrought iron towel rings with silver stars. Trying to get them even, I stuck them to the wall with those 3M Command picture hanging strips. My husband has been promising to screw them into the wall for me. Apparently the weight of my cool towel ring overwhelmed its Velcro attachment...at 3 o'clock in the morning. When considering possible causes for my terror, I have to admit that one wasn't even on the list. Nothing like things that go bump in the night!