It’s a Dog’s Life…

(… perchance to dream)

There was a time, which does not seem that long ago – but was probably really 1986 (forty years – you’ve got to be kidding!), when I could lay my head down on a comfy shopping trolly and doze off in the street while it was raining – Ok I exaggerate, the rain would wake me up – eventually. (as did catching fire , but that’s another story).

Today I find that having completed a weeks night shift, with only a smallish sleep deficit, I follow my usual routine to move back into “daytime”, yawn my head off by 9-10pm and am wide awake at 2/3&4.

Wide awake – Oh, listen to the traffic in the distance. Is that the tick of the clock two floor below in the hall…?

Must sleep, must sleep…

did I send that email? When is that credit card payment due…

must sleep, must sleep…

two people talking as they walk down the street – or maybe the next street, where have they come from at this time?I can almost follow…

must sleep must sleep… that chink in the curtains lets a tiny shaft of street light touch the ceiling, straight as a laser beam…

must sleep must sleep… how long have I been awake? what time is it? will I just check my phone…?

Roll over (again), too hot, stick one foot out of covers, breathe, gentle breaths counting in counting out, why is my foot cold?

Must sleep… oh for god sake I’ll get up and have a cup of green tea and read for a bit.

Stands watching kettle*, head nodding, eyes closing.

Must sleep, must sleep… I go back to bed, gingerly trying not to disturb my wife, moving like the Ninja I’m not, and never will be.

Must slee… how can it be time to get up? I’m sooooo tired!

*this would be a fantastic name for an (American) Indian chief, famous for his patience…

Next week on IaDL. Zzzzzzzzzzzz