Time Flies When You’re Having Fun
I broke a serious rule last night. I didn’t go to sleep. It started innocently enough when I pulled up my book on Microsoft Word to edit it for a while as Lynn worked on our taxes. Before I knew it the house was totally quiet except the tick of the seconds on the clock and the click of the plastic keys as I typed. On and on I typed and read … the clock continuing to tick softly in the background.
I jumped at least three feet when suddenly Lynn’s sleepy face appeared in the doorway of the office, his eyes puffy from sleep, his hair tousled a bit. “You know,” he said with a sigh, “there is more than one part to a day. There is a daytime when you stay awake, and a night time when you go to sleep.” I looked at the clock and it was 5:45 in the morning.
I gave him a guilty/wry smile of my own and said, “But you have to do it when you can do it. Will you get me a caffeine free diet coke?”
“Are you kidding?” he asked. “You just has well have high test, there is no point in going to bed now.” He was right. I’d have to get up so soon I wouldn’t be able to do it. I’ll catch a nap when Baby Girl takes hers. (I am the tender while Mommy is gone during the day.)
It was an exciting night, though. I worked and fell in love with my characters again and felt eager to get it ready to let people read it … so I can decide what to do. It was worth staying up all night this one time. (I think.)
My creative juices don’t flow when there is any kind of activity going on around me. Even though my hearing isn’t what it used to be, I can hear activity very well. It draws the “what’s going on?” part of me out and pushes the imagination to the background. I love the dark hours, when it’s quiet and still … but I don’t need to love them all night long.
I just heard my neighbor start up his car to go to work. It’s almost 7:00 now, I better wake up the grand daughter for school.
Good morning world!
Technorati Tags: Night Owls, Writing all night
