I notice that as I get older occasionally sleep seems elusive but is it? This morning I awoke about four thirty. Initially in the dark I thought to go back to sleep. My body and my brain was not interested.

I got up to my usual wake up activities. I left the lights off and the morning newsy shows off. Quietly I watched the light slowly return to this side of the globe.

Last evening I fell asleep early while reading. I do not remember when but it was before ten. I awakened after eleven and got up to get in bed. This alone explains why my body and brain lost interest in sleeping at four. Six to seven hours with the occasional get up to toilet seems to be my normal. The experts want sell you on 8 hours. I stopped concerning myself with other peoples opinions (OPOs) long ago. Sometimes I take a nap.

There is a bunch of OPO in life. Over the years of taking care of Cheryl I was alert to the fact that there is often an inadvertent expert lurking nearby ready to solve a casual comment at a moments notice. It is impossible for many to be merely present. During the last couple years I have found several people willing to merely be present. They were near me all along. I just did not recognize them. I had been focused on Cheryl. It was an intense focus.

My focus is Debbie now. What a difference a year can make. (Yes. A cliché. I know.)

Carpe Diem