Dear Sleep,
Hey! How are you? I’m doing OK here… but man, I miss you.
I know that a lot of people need you, and you’re really busy, but when you don’t come around?
I just don’t feel like myself.
I mean, I know we’re just casual friends, at best. But haven’t you always known that deep down I wanted you?
Yes, yes… I remember when I was younger and I didn’t need you at all. I know that hurt you. I’d ignore all those messages you’d leave, and pretend I didn’t see you watching me wistfully from across the room.
But Sleep, I had so much to do then! So many places to go! My body was like a perpetual motion machine! I was young! And I was in love with Awake. I know that I shouldn’t say that to you of all people, but he really was stimulating.
And he got shit done. That was kind of hot.
Now, though, all I really want to do is settle down. To rest with you and catch up and spend all that time I never spent before, just getting to know you and learning about you and drooling on you and my pillow.
And where have you gone?
I lie awake thinking about you when you don’t come by.
I rouse much too early in the morning… and find you’ve left me.
I see your absence written across my face, in my eyes, my skin, my wary smirk.
What other beds are you spending time in now?
Who are you snuggling while I lie under my duvet at 2 am, clicking through Wikipedia, bug-eyed and puffy-haired?
Who shares your glass of warm milk?
They tell me the hormonal issues put you off. They tell me the coffee puts you off. They tell me the spicy food puts you off. They tell me I’m overstimulated, and that I’m not your kind of girl. That I’ll have to change everything to get you back.
But those things are ME, Sleep! You can’t ask me to be someone else.
And I’m not ready to sell out for you yet.
Even if I have been awake for two hours already on a Sunday morning.
Bastard.
Love,
Meg
February 11th, 2007 at 11:03 am
Jen’s recent post on sleep hygiene may help bring that cheeky Sleep dude back to your bed:
http://www.worldwidewatercooler.com/2007/02/05/scrub-my-brain/
February 11th, 2007 at 12:50 pm
Beer and allergy medication did it for me for a while. Beer and Nytol is not recommended as you get a hangover from it that last until noon.
February 11th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
Ah, Darren… yep, I read that post. Jen is both awesome and diligent to keep up that level of discipline. And it looks like she’s been rewarded richly. I, however, am lazy and spastic, so I will have to begin dredging up the energy for such a change now to be ready when I am… oh, say, 40 or so.
No, I’m just kidding. Not about Jen being awesome, but I have indeed tried some of those elements and strategies. Just not all at once, per se.
And James, I am anti-medication when it comes to the sleeping, mostly because I’m prone to dehydration and migraines. I think beer and allergy meds would probably just kill me:).
February 11th, 2007 at 3:20 pm
Do NOT attempt to sleep with Martin in the bed…that IS what you call you laptop, right!?? If you cannot read yourself to sleep because of the stimulation factor, then the computer is WORSE!! Egad girl!!!
February 11th, 2007 at 4:20 pm
i hate to break it to you, but Sleep has been hanging out at my house lately…both at nighttime and naptime, and sometimes in between. i’ll pass along the message that his presence is requested in vancouver.
February 11th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
When he’s done with you, could you send him to me? For me, M. Sleep is just a big tease. I fall into his arms easily enough, but then he abandons me in the deepest part of the night, long before it’s time to get up. Alas.
February 11th, 2007 at 6:05 pm
I agree with Mom. Keep the laptop out of the bed, especially at night. I don’t have any suggestions for you other than that…but good luck.
February 11th, 2007 at 7:01 pm
You’re the only person I know who would think of cutting back on the coffee as Selling Out. :)
You DO know sleep deprivation can make you insane, right?
;)
February 11th, 2007 at 8:57 pm
Your mom makes me giggle.
I hope you find a little Rip Van Winkle for yourself. Now there is a good Valentine’s date!