A psychiatrist once explained to me that when you’re having trouble falling back asleep, one of the worst things you can do is stay in bed tossing and turning. Get up, make a cup of tea, read a book, stretch. Whatever you do, don’t lay in bed and let your mind fester. After a little bit, you should be able to lay down and fall back asleep.
I sometimes take this too far. I end up crawling back into bed after the sunrise that I just couldn’t miss even though I’m finally tired enough to fall back asleep. But when do I ever purposefully get up early enough to see them, so why not? I use the opportunity to walk to church, sit outside because I never dare walk in, and take to whoever’s running the show while I weave my fingers between the grass. I get lost here until the lightning bugs collectively decide that it’s bright enough out and all collectively light up as they slowly rise around me. Only then do I remember I should probably walk home because I haven’t gotten nearly enough sleep.
It was maybe 9 hours before falling asleep that I aired my grievances that after being told it would storm every day for almost two weeks now, there has been none. When 4:23 hits and my eyes shoot open to the strobe light working it’s magic in the sky outside my window, even if I was able to fall back asleep, I can’t help but walk outside to watch.
Lightning
Do you ever wonder what it’s like to be lightning?
I imagine using a cloudy sky as your etch-a-sketch pad.
Lighting up the place every single time you make an entrance.
Never worrying about the convenience of your timing.
Dancing across the sky, captivating but never held captive.
When they say you can be anything, do you think it’s possible?
Do you think I can be, just a little bit lightning?
Much love, until next time.
Madeline May I... 