The anticipation of my uninterrupted slumber was almost intoxicating. As exhausted as I was, I was sure my eyes would not open until at least 7 a.m. … maybe even 8 …wouldn’t that be heaven! I took a long hot shower and got into bed. I turned on some sitcom that I know my husband would have hated and snuggled down. I have no idea what time it was when I slipped out of consciousness … but I can tell you that I did not even make it to the next commercial break.
My eyes peeled open. It was 5:30 a.m. … the wake up/feeding time of my 4 month old … I must have missed him. Insert expletive here. My body and mind shifted into its automatic mode even though I was trying my best to be unplugged until my plane lands in Atlanta this afternoon. I could not go back to sleep, I instantly craved coffee, and my brain flooded with article ideas, the paragraphs you are reading now, and a headline for a press release I had been trying to write for two weeks. I also had the overwhelming urge to call home and check in … or rather check on.
I forced my eyes shut and silently sang “la la la I can’t hear you” to my brain. I refused to leave this solace until at least 6:00 a.m. At 6:15 I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to get coffee and the ideas down on paper before they disappeared forever. Oh well … it was good while it lasted, right! Right! I got (I am guessing) about five or six hours of uninterrupted sleep and I did write. Mission accomplished.
(This piece was originally written in October 2007 as an entry in my personal journal. Outside of illness, I have not had another night off since ... but I remain hopeful.)
