Z is for ZZZ's @ Life is Good

Wanna grab some zzz's? I do. I've always been a fan of the nap as a favorite pastime, and usually have slept pretty well at night. Lately, though, since my chronic illness, I've started thinking more and more about sleep. And naps. To me, there are three levels of sleep. The catnap, the planned nap, and the going-to-bed-for-the-night sleep.

I'm an excellent cat-napper. I know that a lot of people can fall asleep in the car, or watching TV. No problem. That's JV cat-napping. But can you fall asleep at work? I did. Not that I recommend this, mind you. It's just that my body is very good at the power nap. Give me ten minutes, and I can be asleep in thirty seconds, and refreshed when I wake up. This particular incident happened on a lazy, hot afternoon. No, it wasn't donuts or Wendy's, this was during my glamorous job at the liquor store. I was working the day shift, had finished all the stock work, and my required two cases of “ringing”. (To save money, all Bud cans were bought by the case, and we put our own six-packs together with those plastic rings. There's even a special tool. But it's mind-numbing work.) I settled myself on the stool by the drive-up cash register, and waited for customers. Wasn't long before I was nodding off. I tried valiantly to stay awake, but my body won. WHACK! My head hit the window. There was a car sitting there, and its driver saying, Miss? Miss??? I have no idea how long I was out for, but man, that was embarrassing. And I had a lump on my head for a while.

Planned naps are much more satisfying than cat-naps, though. Throughout my life, my napping has ebbed and flowed according to my kids' schedule. And alas, there were many years when they were too old for naps, but too young to be left in front of the TV for me to nap, so I suffered. Napless. This isn't true anymore, so I'm again indulging in naps. Besides, one of the many doctors I've seen for this lung crap said get more rest. I am taking that to the bank. Naps are best when you slip onto your own bed, with a fan for white noise (and heat relief in my case), and strict “do not disturb” instructions. Some naps are so satisfying that I wake up completely disoriented as to time, day, and where anyone else is. Ahh, refreshed for cooking a good meal and hanging out with the boys without yawning the evening away.

But even with a nap, there's still the need to get a good night's sleep. I've slept in tents, campers, on picnic tables when the rain wouldn't stop, and on the floor at a friend of a friend's house when the snow kept me from going home. I've done couches, during childhood been forced to sleep with my Sissie who is in constant motion, or now that I'm an adult, with one of my sick children. But the very best sleep is in my own bed. We have a Tempur-Pedic clone from Costco. It's amazing. Firm, yet giving, so good for bad backs (The Engineer's.) And I only need four pillows. Yawn. This is making me tired. G'night, sleep tight! 

This post has been brought to you by the letter Z.  I'm an Alphabe-Thursday student and Ms. Jenny is our teacher.  Head over to her "off on my tangent" and enjoy the fun!