When I set out to learn about my mother's bridge club, the Jewish octogenarians behind the matching outfits and accessories, I never expected to fall in love with them. This is the story of the ladies, their game, their gen, and the ragged path that led me back to my mother.Tylenol PM, Advil PM, Benadryl, Melatonin, Tryptophan, Xanax, Ambien. Am I missing anything? It’s so hard to shut it down at night, but I’ve been working on my insomnia and trying to get seven hours of sleep. I feel so much better when I do and I’m less irritable. Though I think irritability is one of my better qualities. The worst thing about sleep aids (besides addiction and fuzzy head) is that I can never remember my dreams, though I often wake up screaming. The goal is shut it down and wake up at five, ready to write.
How do you sleep?
Filed under: Uncategorized |
Betsy Lerner 
My head hits the pillow and I’m out. It’s the wake up at 3am that sucks. Hard to get back to sleep and when I do, it feels like the alarm goes off a minute later.
Ah, we’ve opened a whole new Pandora’s Boxspring. How do I not sleep? Let me count the ways…1 am, 2 am, 3 am, etc. Lately, the sleep gods have been merciful, but they can be oh so fickle. And If I don’t get those 7 or 8 zzzs, I’m a shipwreck. On those rare occasions that I do, I own the morning and the coffee and the screen, as the daylight gently emerges.
Yeah, you’re missing one – Valerian – or Valerian Root. (it’s what they use when making Valium) It’s herbal, so, like Melatonin, it’s less likely to give you that fuzzy head feeling. Melatonin and Valerian are the only ones I will take – the others knock me for a loop.
But – I don’t usually have to take anything. Like Mike D, I fall asleep quick. I read at night, and can usually only get a few pages in before the book is flopping this way and that. I sometimes have a problem with waking up too – just recently it’s at 3:30. I go back to sleep most of the time, but b/c I’m up at 5, I kinda hate it when I do that.
“How do you sleep?”
Melatonin. No food within a couple hours of bedtime. Off the computer and into bed ca. nine-ish most nights (though Susan and I went to see Lindsey Buckingham in concert last week and not only were we up till almost eleven, we were too wound up after we got home to be sleepy much). Read a little while in bed (old, old, habit, now part of my decompression from the day). Lights out around ten-ish. Up at some ungodly hour in the middle of the night to wander to the john and piss (older man’s bladder, a curse of being male). Back to bed and sleep till about 4:30. Roll over and spoon with Susan and sleep some more, till about 5:30. Get up and start my day. Wake up a little later.
TMI?
I fall asleep fine but wake up and who knows, maybe back to sleep maybe not. I am up before 5am anyway. BUT because I babysit three days a week, (I humbly admit I am an amazing grandma), I nap when the little ones nap. Great invention naps. I can enjoy the snooze because I know when I am sleeping.
Sleep, schmeep. I try to follow the Less is More philosophy to allow enough waking hours to whittle away at that never-diminishing To Do list.
Early and often. Sleep is vital, but rest refreshes. Five to fifteen minutes with eyes closed, resting easily, maybe not really sleeping, maybe really falling asleep. Some days a morning nap, some days afternoon, some days both. At night, electronics go to bed an hour or so before me, and I read until my eyes close. Sometimes that’s five minutes, sometimes an hour, but six or seven hours later, I’m good to go. Even if it’s less, I’m up at first light or before.
Sleep? What’s that? I haven’t slept for years. Menopause they say with no offer of a rational, tolerable solution. At this point death seems half inviting if only for the rest 😉 And you’re missing Ativan, quick onset, short half-life but there is that pesky addiction mess.
Having becoming comfortable with my mortality, sleep comes much easier–also flying. Sorry, can’t explain how in a short blog reply. And I do remember my dreams, but it’s often a struggle to describe them, even to myself.
Yes, I know flying is as safe as it gets. I’m not always rational.
Wait. You get up at 5, ready to write?? I’m in awe.
I used to have a lot of problems trying to get to sleep, but since I gave up hope I feel a lot better. 🙂
It’s like this…
I read this, somewhere. Can’t remember where, so my reference taking abilities falter at this point.
The thought is: I used to walk into a room and wondered if they’d like me. Now I wander into a room and wonder if I’ll like them.