Thursday, October 2, 2008

The Wee Hours

It is Garbage Day.

And it is early in the morning. I like to call them the wee hours.

It is quiet and peaceful this morning in my neighborhood except for the trucks.

BEEPbeepBEEP .... their sound is difficult to miss. I open up the blinds and peer out. I see a lady in her robe walk out to the walk, bend over and pick up the morning paper.

She would be so surprised to know that I am awake.

I know without a doubt I have surprised Mollie, my adorable cat. She thought I got up to use the bathroom, so she waited on my bed for me to return.

"Surprise!" I told her as I hurried down the hall toward the kitchen.

I woke up 2-1/5 hours earlier than usual because instead of working overtime after work, I will work overtime before work. I have a friend visiting me. And we have dinner plans tonight. I worked overtime a couple of nights ago and we missed our evening plans on account of it. I feel happy for my quick-thinking solution for this evening.

I feel giddy and alert. My mind thinks I'm going on vacation. My eyes keep looking for my suitcase. Surely I am going somewhere really fun because why else would I be awake when the moon is still up?

"Surprise!" I tell myself. "You're going to work!"

It seems the earlier one wakes up, the less there is be distracted by. So I got ready in record-speed. I watered my potted plants. I watered the boxwoods. I threw out the garbage. I chatted with my nextdoor neighbor taking her dog out for a walk.

"Shawn! What are you doing awake so early?!"
"I'm going to work extra early and putting in my overtime in reverse!"

She nods. I don't think she understood.

It is peaceful. I love the mornings. Just like I love tidy, uncluttered homes. But I know only too well it's just like keeping a clean, uncluttered home. I will never be natural at it.

I love this cute animation. It's called The Ok Book. I wish I had written and animated this.

6 comments:

Kate said...

The OK Book is marvelous and I've sent it on to a couple of the teachers working with kids who need to see it! Thank you!
I sure hope you kept your energy level UP for the evening plans. I'm early to rise and early to bed...goes with the age and activities.

danny said...

Loved the OK Book! I can totally see you doing it! Anyway, I've never been a 'morning person' but yeah I do equate getting up extra early with doing something fun, like catching a plane or going fishing when I was a kid. So I can relate to that early morning giddiness!

Doodlestreet said...

Oh yeah, the WEEEE hours...nice, huh? I love em! You really feel like you take a BITE out of life when ya get up early! I love that! Glad you got to experience it...and that OK Book...wow...if I didn't know better, I would say that is a story right out of your sweet mind!

Rayne said...

That is an adorable animation.
About a year ago when they started me on this medication I started waking up at 5:00 a.m. This was not the time I wanted to be awake. I tried going to bed later, I tried not getting up and seeing if I would fall back to sleep but for what ever reason, 5:00 a.m. is it for me.
I hated it at first but now I love that early morning, grey light time to do what I please. Quietly and without interruption.

violetismycolor said...

I have been 'tidying up' myself. The day after my dad's funeral, I went into a cleaning frenzy and moved all the family room furniture, washed all my windows, washed my kitchen floor, etc...apparently I am an 'activity griever'...

platitudinal said...

"Working over time before work" ... I don't think I'll ever come up with that concept. That's absolutely brilliant, Shawn :)