sleep again

We went to bed early last night, about 9:30.

I know for at least some of my friends, that is the “normal” time, but I never was considered “normal.” Miriam was tired and I agreed to go with her, but I told her I’d be awake about 3, it seems to work that way.

So I slept and slept hard, and woke up an hour later. I got back to sleep without too much trouble.

And an hour or less later I woke again, each time after a few minutes of being awake I got back to sleep.

Then at 3 Leo woke me up. He had gotten uncovered (as short haired as he is, he sleeps under a blanket. Often I have Miriam look after Leo when he wakes up, because she can go back to sleep almost instantly. If I get up it is very hard for me.

But this time I took care of Leo.

So here I sit in my leather recliner, inside a sleeping bag, since I did not want to start a fire or get dressed -- I will go back to bed in a couple of hours.

It seems that my sleep comes in 45 minute to an hour and quarter “packets”. I do not know if that is unusual, I do not know if it is healthy or not, and frankly I am not much concerned.

It is a nutty way to live, but I do know that there are a lot of people who wake up early and spend an hour or two before going back to bed and sleep. Some do it regularly, finding that this quiet time are some of the most precious hours of the day.

I am not ready to go that far, but I do understand the idea, and I sure do not find the time unpleasant.

changes

I used to tell students that since all good things come to and end, and the semester was ending, it must have been good.

The same logic could go for this week’s change in our national government, I guess.

This blog is not about politics, and I won’t go there, but another line is that a change is as good as a rest.

So, enjoy your rest, because there seems to be major changes ahead, and changes often are what we make of them.

As we get closer to the end of January the garden seeds which I ordered a couple of weeks ago are arriving, adding to the stack. Each packet of seeds is a promise, an expression of faith. There is still a lot of ice on the garden, though the snow is pretty well gone. It is hard to think of much spring this time of year, but i try.

I'll open the cold frame soon and begin eating the salad veggies that have been waiting for a bit of spring weather. I planted them back in September.


For Christmas one of our daughters gave Miriam a 1000 piece jig saw puzzle. She began working on it about as soon as we got home before new years day.

She worked on that puzzle like it was a job, like she was getting paid! It kept her occupied for a long time.

Last night she put the last piece in. It was the hardest puzzle she has ever done. She was sure of that and I tend to agree. The whole experience tells lot about her. Once she starts something she won’t stop.

Hmm, maybe that is why she is still married to ME!!

birthday

Yesterday was Miriam’s birthday.

It was one of those numbers that does not include a zero but is a familiar number. You know 6 times 12; or 8 times 9; or 3 dozen twice. You know.

It was a quite day, she was home all day. I had to leave for a while, so I left her with the computer phone to take cals. Earlier I emailed the daughters telling them to be sure to call their mother on that number. I have told them for years that they can forget my birthday and it is OK, but do not forget your mom's so I send a reminder from time to time!


Emily called first. When I returned from getting icing for the cake (I know, I could have made it myself), a gift of lingerie for miriam, as well as a bit of ice cream to go with the cake, she was happily talking to grandkids on the phone, often repeating the same bit of trivia.

I had to remind her a dozen or more times that it was indeed her birthday and that was why people were calling.

Maybe I should have made some cup cakes and, after we each had one put the rest in the freezer, but instead I made a smallish two layer cake, with strawberry jam between the layers and chocolate icing on top.

She requested a chocolate cake, even though I had thought of angle food, (she has surely been my angel). I have never never made an angel food cake, but it seemed symbolic. I don’t particularly even like them, but I got over the symbolism and whipped up an easy box cake (Oh I know I know, I should have made a mayonnaise chocolate cake).

When I served her the cake, an hour or so after dinner, I teased that I forgot to call the city and get a fire permit, with that many candles. She laughed at me.

I changed her medical insurer, and while I have power of attorney and all the rest of the stuff, the new company got all fussy about it, so I’ll take Miriam in to sign the papers herself. Her signature has no legal bearing, but it will make the company happy.

Miriam is a few months older than I (January to May), and every year since we were 20 (we married at 19), I have teased her about being married to an “older” woman. But it has been good.

I love you Miriam, thanks for making my life so much more enjoyable

Christmas time when all 20 something of us were together, one of my sons in law said: “Dave, this is all your fault.” Then we both laughed.