Sleepin' In

I wake with a start and grab my alarm clock. 6:00 am! Already past my usual rising time. Yikes! Then I remember - today is Saturday. And not the typical 'places to go, people to see' day. Today my schedule is strangely void of meetings, work obligations, commitments. Oh, sure, the boys have stuff to do, and soon they will be clamoring for me to take them here and there. But at the moment, I have actual leisure time!

I debate what to do. The wide world outside my window beckons me with sun dappled fields and cheery blue skies. A light breeze combs the trees, enticing me with the prospect of exploring the hidden paths in the piney woods. No, I am not in the mood to wander into new places.

The pile of books by my dresser calls me - men and women from times and places long since gone invite me to step into their world and experience things I would otherwise never know - learn from their wisdom, understand their issues, see how they handled things. As fascinating as that is, I decline (in spite of the fact that I must accomplish a certain amount of that before class next Tuesday).

From the kitchen, last night's supper dishes call for my attention - it may be the only chance I have to neaten and straighten the house before the insanity of day begins. But the boys and I have made a pact. On the weekend, we each will clean one room (how convenient that there are three!) and this week the kitchen belongs to Drew. I resist the impulse.

It is too early to practice piano or listen to music without headphones or watch anything on TV if indeed there were anything worth watching. No, I have a better use of my unexpected leisure time. I am actually going to rest. Stay in bed. Catch a few more zzzz's. Sleep in! I roll over, pull the covers up to my chin and close my eyes. Normally when I try this, my mind is running a mile a minute and I cannot for the life of me stay put. After twenty minutes of tossing and turning, I finally admit defeat and get up.

But today is different. I drift off almost immediately. Like a swimmer coming up for air, I wake and doze, wake and doze, watching the numbers on the clock change. I dream strange nonsense, puzzling over the actions when I wake, sorting the credible from the fantastic, slipping into slumber before I have quite figured it out. I must have needed the rest.

I do not venture forth until well after 8:30, and even then I do not dive into cleaning, reading, working, walking. I partake of a leisurely breakfast of cinnamon raisin toast and yogurt, sitting in front of the wide open window, watching the world awake. It feels good. I should definitely try this again.