It is 3:50 am.
I am a night owl.
I think I am so by necessity: when I was in high school, it was necessary to stay up and “burn the midnight oil” so to speak in order to deal with all the tests and homework that Asian countries are so famous for; in college, I stayed up because drinking and shooting breeze while sitting on the curb in the middle of the night was all kinds of awesome; in grad school, I stayed up because I lived in a dorm room that was just wide enough for the pullout bed and therefore I stayed out of it as late as possible so I would not be swallowed up by the monster of loneliness; now I stay up because the wee hours are the only time that is my time. Quiet time. MINE. I can enjoy being with myself, the quiet inside my head.
I realized one of the reasons I love Christmas so much is because during this time, the soft glow from the Christmas tree keeps me company when I putter around the house. It is simply magical. In the glowing light, even folding the laundry is fun.
Yes I said that.
Indeed, a lot of things are more fun when I can take my time doing it, in complete silence, without being needed.
I am hoping this list of things includes packing because our flight is this morning and I have not even started packing yet. I have been doing everything else but that. But of course, with all this NOT PACKING, I failed to follow the Lunar Eclipse. But I made it up by watching this video a few times while giggling to myself. In the dark. In the soft glow cast by the tree yonder…
Total Eclipse of the Heart: Literal Video Version
Outside is covered in a nice thick layer of fresh snow. Inside is warm and dark except the tree. It is perfect and I wish it would last, that I could continue to not pack.
4:15 am now.
Off to fold the laundry.
I feel like I’m in a time warp. Your post just popped up now. Your tree is beautiful, and let me be the first to wish you a wonderful Christmas 2011.
lifeintheboomerlane recently posted…A 100-000 Year History of Pregnancy- Childbirth and the First Six Months Of Life
I totally relate to being a night owl. More often than not you can find me burning the midnight oil.
Jack recently posted…The Hell With The Christmas Spirit
I relate to this post, just not in the middle of the night (smile). Typically I am in bed by 10;30 ( I am up past my bed time now)…What you do in the middle of the night, is what I enjoy doing in the morning. I absolutely crave that quiet time-it rejuvenates me. As Kitchen Witch would say. it keep my “ear worm” in check.
I set my alarm clock for 2:41 a.m.,( A peak time )woke up my son and we stumbled out into the yard in our pajamas to watch the spectacular sky. The moon was almost entirely a deep orange and the stars were extra bright. It was lovely. Well worth interruption of my sleep time.
Velva
Velva recently posted…Wordless Wednesday
As I write this you have already packed, boarded the plane, slept soundly, landed, said hello to relatives, traveled into DC to look at monuments & visit the air & space museum and landed back in Maryland to relax again.
Soon the holiday will be over & you will be having me surgically removed from your leg from which I will not let go.
Love your tree.
Anyway, my quiet time has just started as all needy offspring have just disengaged and gone off to sleep. Now I am alone with my thoughts and free to skip merrily through the connections of the interwebz.
dufmanno recently posted…Screaming Merry Christmas Into the Gaping Void
You are so right. Those lights and the scent of the tree are utterly magical. Hmmm. I have two heaps of clean laundry in chairs in plain view of the tree… Now there’s an idea…
BigLittleWolf recently posted…Safe and Sound
Have a safe trip and a great Christmas! My cousins pulled a Bloggess and sent me money to buy a ticket so I can visit them for Christmas instead of sitting alone in Dallas, and I’m feeling positive about the interviews. Thank you for the encouragement this past week. It means a lot!
You are very welcome! I am so glad to hear that you will be spending Christmas with families!
“In the glowing light, even folding the laundry is fun.” It’s obvious you’ve been sampling some “Christmas cheer” a little early! LOL.
Have a wonderful trip and an amazing holiday, Lin! I’m so happy to have found you!
Hugs,
Wendy
writerwoman61 recently posted…How to Ride the Bus…A Guide to Public Transit…
I love me time, but I’m too sleepy to stay up that late.
Unknown Mami recently posted…I’m Nesting
You write fast. I had another comment, but then I did the math between the time you started writing and when you ended. You write fast. That’s all I can think of now. That and how bloody long it takes me to write a post.
Have safe trip!
Kernut the Blond recently posted…Ten Things- Ten Signs Christmas Is Coming
When I say I talk to myself inside my head a lot, I mean it literally. So often I have accumulated a lot inside my head, and I really am using my blog to sort of purge these jumbled-up thoughts so my head won’t explode! LOL. I never ever draft nor do I edit before I hit the publish button. You guys have been too kind to come and listen to what I have to say.
When I say I don’t draft I mean that I just write down what’s inside my head. I do have a backlog of posts that I have written but have not been able to finish because I cannot find the words to describe the feelings accurately. Sometimes I just want to say, “Ok, if you can jump inisde my head, you’d know what the heck I am trying to say!” sort of like this moment right now. LOL
i feel at peace, like i just prayed or some shit. must be the codeine. and definitely that lovely tree.
pattypunker recently posted…freelance whales
Nowadays I need sleep like a newborn needs a binky but I wish I could reclaim my night owlness. It seems the only time you can really be alone with your thoughts.
Your beautiful tree makes me wish I’d put one up this year! Be careful on your trip and what you end up packing when you’re in sleep deprived zombie mode.
SisterMerryHellish recently posted…I’ve Got Nothin’
Im more of a night owl too. I seem to come to life after dark. Wait. Does that make me a night owl or a vampire?? lol
Holly B recently posted…I Should Be Banned
Those quiet momentsof alone time are when I can be most at peace, too. Like Andrea, I wake up extra early just to have them. Enjoy your trip.
Vinny C recently posted…Cleaning Out My Closet
I love sleep. Seriously. How do you skip sleep?
Elly Lou recently posted…My Kinda Carol
Safe travels, doll. Biscuit (
http://thewedordeadwager.wordpress.com/2010/12/20/the-story-of-cupcake/
) suggests waiting until the last minute for all packing, then
acting out some overly dramatic walkout scene from a movie where
you throw a suitcase on the bed and angrily fling clothes in it.
Somehow the image of this makes me laugh so hysterically I think I
simply must try it. Maybe it should become our new method
acting/packing catharctic release.
Wicked Shawn recently posted…My Christmas Wish List……
I love the night and silence at this time of year, too. I haven’t enjoyed any of it yet this particular Christmas. But I did love that video. Best thing I’ve watched in a while.
Have a fantastic holiday, your blog is part of what gets me thru the week!
gigi recently posted…Snowball Cookies with a surprise! – Holiday Baking with KludgyMom
I love this post because you sound so serene and calm…. Sleep on the plane, safe trip!
Your tree is lovely. The only reason I stay up that late is to see if I can catch Santa. But, I wake up early in the morning for my quiet time. And I love it. Until later in the afternoon when I’m inexplicably exhausted.
Have a lovely trip!!
Andrea recently posted…Sick of You
Oh thank you! It’s almost 7 am and I still have NOT packed. I am very good at this procrastinating thing…