lightheaded
There is no rhythm or pattern to sleep these days. There are no clues from my surroundings or nudges from nature to shoehorn me into bed. No perfunctory kiss on the forehead nor pat on the tush to say "now go." Sleep is sporadic and unreliable. Nine hours one night, just over four the following, asleep after midnight, at 10 pm, in the wee hours of the day, a snooze in the evening. I have heard the tireless tweet of songbirds and watched the warm pink sky wait on the napping sun at 2:30 am. Awake at 5 in the morning I tell myself at midnight that I should call it a day only to hear myself unflaggingly reply "why call it a day when it hasn't yet been 24 hours?" So I have to smooch my own self and kick my own hiney into the darkness of our bedroom. Our bedroom - where layers of curtain hang blacking back the day, bouncers kicking out a steady stream of rowdy uninvitees. That dang unrelenting light. It wants in, it wants in, IT WANTS IN!
7 Comments:
I can't begin to imagine what it would be like to go to bed when it's still light out. I always feel that as long as the sun's up, I should be up and active myself.
I swear Colleen, you are a born writer. Every sentence just fills me with warmth, I love your writing. I also think children would love your writing. Have you ever thought about writing for children? You are inspiring, and wonderful and kindness and warmth oozes from every post. I'd be happy to illustrate your books if you'd write them.
xxx
Add two more fans. I read this out loud to Tom and we were both so impressed! Really wonderfully written.
But, Colleen where are the Sunday June 1, and Sunday June 8 midnight pictures???
Then Sonya, you would truly be exhausted by now! I've forgotten what stars look like.
Oh CC! Thank you! Really and truly thank you. Have I ever thought of children's writing? If you only knew! I actually just finished a children's writing course but the course sort of took the life out of me (long, somewhat dull story ... for here anyway) and my joy kinda ... ebbed. But the idea of you illustrating and ... well ... how GREAT would that be? Thank you for telling me the things that I can't see. My hope is that someday this indecisive, middle child will arise from her bum and do and try and do and try some more. xo.
Nan, you too! Thank you. My missing photos? Well, I was going to post them but the thing is ... they aren't that impressive anymore. The fact is that Yellowknife is now in a permanent dusk so even though the light is up somewhat later each evening it isn't a striking difference anymore. Dusk is dusk is dusk - there's just more of it and my photos don't overly reflect that. What I think I might do next is stay up late one night and take a photo around 2 am and show how it is then. It might not be any different than the last photo I showed but ne'ertheless I just might do it! :)
What the hey, you're up anyway! We aren't sleeping here because of the heat. Three fans in the bedroom last night. I know other places have higher temps and humidity, but we don't have air conditioning so it feels like the South in the old days. We should just sit on the porch sipping mint juleps. :<)
Oh, and you don't need a course. You can just do it. I heard an author talk last week, and she said her advice to writers is to write something every day, whether a page or a paragraph. I love the idea of a children's book - your writing voice has the charm and whimsy and childlike quality children would respond to. My two middle- of- the- family friends who are married to each other are extremely industrious! Whereas, I, the oldest and youngest and middlest and only, have a distinct lack of ambition. :<)
I've heard of the mint julep but I've not had one and it always has such a perfectly lovely sound to it. :)
You are right about needing to write. Writers write. That's what they say and the "someday" thinking is not a helpful one. I truly appreciate this reminder. Part of my problem (that is thankfully dying, albeit slowly and painfully) is that I wait to have that wondrous thought which will light my brain and press my pen to paper but it's better for me to sit down and simply begin.
I would like to meet these extremely industrious middle children and take notes ... if only I could find a notebook around here ... oh well. ;)
You are such an encouragement to me, Nan.
any questions?
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