So dependent on Independence Day

There are two holidays I have a tough time with. One happens on December 31st, the other is the fourth of July.

Let me explain why. Sleep! On Independence Day I'm reminded how dependent I am on sleep. I am dependent and often deprived. How sick is it that all I think about is the issue of sleep when these two holidays roll around each year.

So here's what happens if you work my schedule. You begin to fret about the fourth well in advance. You also begin to come up with your plan of attack. Do you take an ambien and try to go to bed at 5pm so that you are out cold before the fireworks? Or do you take a nap and just stay up and watch the fireworks?

I decide early on that the sleep aid is a bad idea. Why? Well I took one on July 3rd assuming that if I got a really good night of sleep in advance I would be refreshed on the fourth. Bad idea! I turned on the air conditioner in our bedroom, and it started to hum. I clutched my pillow and dropped into a deep slumber. Next thing I know I wake up pretty refreshed, glance at the clock radio and see that it's 2:15 a.m.. I figure I can still get a few more minutes of shut eye. So I close my eyes and wake up shortly after 4 am in a panic. I slept right through the alarm. I pride myself on not being late to work, but it won't happen on this day, since I'm always in by 4. So of course I'm apopletic and I race out the door. The fourth is already off to an awful start.

So I spend the day vacillating back and forth, still undecided on what to do. Finally I decide in a panic to run upstairs and jump into bed as its getting dark. Get to bed before the explosions I keep telling myself. I dive into bed and start willing myself to sleep. I will myself to sleep, when that doesn't work I wish myself to sleep, when that doesn't work I pray for sleep. Concentrate, concentrate, go to sleep, go to sleep. Please, please go to sleep! Go to sleep you idiot you are running out of time! The more I try to pressure myself to sleep the more I can't. So they begin, boom boom here, boom boom there, boom boom everywhere. I know it's a lost cause. I'm wide awake in a war zone.

So I walk downstairs and join my daughter and wife who are sitting at the kitchen table talking. "Were we too loud? Why are you up?" I explain that it's no use. I am officiallly doomed.

An hour later I'm out at the local lake watching a beautiful light show, with the fireworks reflections shimmering off the lake. It was awesome, inspiring, and I have to admit fun. We joined our pals from across the lake Paul and Kay and their kids and some other friends. They brought along cupcakes and beverages. They were all talking about how nice it was to have the day off. Paul assured me, "Mike I'd like to say I'll be watching tomorrow morning, and Friday, but I'll be sleeping in!" All I could think is I'm going to pay for this on Thursday.

So yesterday I struggled through the day. Had one of those mind numbing, oh no I'm drooling on my pillow naps. Despite the long nap I still spent most of the day walking around in a fog. So another holiday has passed and I'm making myself a promise. It's the same promise I made last year at this time. I must make sure I get the 5Th of July off next year. In a couple of weeks I'll forget. So next year at this time I'll feel like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day. But you'll be reading my blog thinking didn't I read something just like this last year at this time.