In the MIddle of the Night

Many of you share my problem: that thing that seems to happen to women once they approach their middle years. Yes, that's right, the insomnia thing. Personally, I've always been a poor sleeper. I fall asleep easily enough, but staying asleep is impossible, and once I'm awake, I'm awake for hours. Mostly two, sometimes three.

The benefit to reliable wakefulness is that one can get a lot done in the middle of the night when the normal distractions are tucked away upstairs and all the things that might wake them up are switched off. I have -- through years of experience -- developed the acceptance that once I am awake, no manner of concentration or hope will change that for at leat the next hour or so. So I get up and do something with the time I have been given. In a way, it is a gift to be awake, because it is one of the few chances I have to be alone in this house.

These nights I am spinning away for my longed-for Kirigami. Spinning is perfect for middle of the night fiber activity since it is a quiet thing, and once the yarn is determined, essentially mindless. I am entertained enough by the shifting of the colors on the bobbin, in much the same way that as a child I would take a gobstopper out of my mouth every minute or so.

 

Pardon the shifting lighting conditions, but you get the idea. I'm only one more bobbin away from having the yarn I need to cast on, and while I dread waking up in the middle of the night, at least for now, I have something to look forward to when that happens.

Comments

[Molly]

Your comparison of spinning multicolored top with gobstoppers has to be one of my favorite things I've read in ages. It's so true! The spinning looks beautiful - can't wait to see what it looks like knit up.

[Mary K. in Rockport]

Pretty stuff. Myself, I take half a bright pink Benadryl.

[Traci Frederick]

I have had trouble sleeping ever since having children. I had tried everything - nothing worked until I discovered the magic of chamomile tea. Works like a charm every night - not just the falling asleep part, but the staying asleep part.
Unless you really love the spinning in the night, give it a try. Sleep is beautiful, but so is that yarn you're making! :)

[KarenVR]

Beautiful yarn. You won't need to ply before you cast on? It is just lovely. And even though I am not a spinner, I imagine the continuous peddling and hand movements are somewhat mesmerorizing and would allow sleepiness to return if one would allow it.

[Lynn in Tucson]

Oh. So we must be the same age then.

Gah.

[Manise]

Love the Gobstopper reference and it's spot on! Your post title now has given me a Billy Joel earworm. :-)