I must confess, since I took over as Editor of the Blanco County News, I’ve looked forward to the prospect of writing a column. It’s been nearly a year since I began here, and with the start of this new Lifestyle page, I thought, “Now is the time!”
Even though the opportunity had been presented, I found myself without a clear vision of what to write about. I don’t think I’m qualified to hand out advice and I don’t consider myself an “expert” on any subject. I am a wife and mother, yet I don’t own a #1 Mom coffee cup. What then is my strength? What can I write that people will relate to? After some soul searching, I realized I would have to write inspired by what I consider my best asset; I think I’m pretty funny.
I’m titling this column as “Oh, Honestly”. I intend to write about some life lessons I’ve learned, ponderings I’ve pondered, and embarrassing moments I’ve endured. An honest look into my world with a humorous twist, because how else would I be able to keep on going, without being able to laugh at my own expense?
Here’s another confession: I’m not a morning person. Not an earth-shattering confession, I know. I’m sure I am not unique in my dislike of the wee hours of the day. I am also not one of those people that wishes they were a morning person. This is one thing about myself that I wholly accept. Raise a fist with me, fellow night owls, and rejoice in the dark!
The problem I run into with preferring sunset over sunrise, is that I live with two people who feel the opposite. My husband and my son are both morning people, rising gloriously with the sun, or even before it.
My son recently told me, “The birds are my alarm clock, when I can hear them it’s time to get up!” Disgusting. At five years old, some Moms would tell me how lucky I am to have a child that rarely wakes up grumpy. Give him a moment to rub the sleep from his eyes, and he’s ready to take on the world. I don’t begrudge him that quality, it’s just that I am not prepared to deal with that level of cheeriness so early in the day. Every weekend, as I soon as I was able to drag myself out of bed, he would be on me. “Mom! When are you going to make me breakfast? Can I watch a TV show? Will you help me beat this level in Ninja Turtles? I can’t find my shoes!” My answer was just as constant, “After coffee.” Bless him, he’s beginning to catch on. He still attacks me with a barrage of questions, but now they begin, “After you’re done with your coffee, can you….”
My husband simply refuses to understand my close relationship with my pillow. “I wake up before my alarm everyday, and you hit the snooze five times! I don’t understand why you even set an alarm.” he complains. Well honey, if I could forget the alarm and wake up “naturally” before 10:30 I would. He’s tried to get me to read articles on why being a morning person is better for your health, and while I’m sure it’s sound science, it’s just not who I am.
Night is when I feel most creative. After I’ve been through the requirements of the day, at night my mind feels free to wander and wonder. If I woke up early in the morning, I’d just spend those extra hours worrying about the rest of the day.
So until retirement, some 40 years aways, I think I’ll stick to the night, and make sure there is plenty of coffee for the morning.
More from Oh, Honestly.