The Best Month

This is the January I have been longing for.

On Monday night all the conditions came together for a perfect night's sleep. Warm cocoa at bedtime, the new memory foam mattress topper, weather. . . When I woke up Tuesday morning, I checked the clock and was amazed. I had not slept eight hours through in years! The sun had also slept in, and in its place a dreary but restful gray was all around. The tepid temperature had cancelled out the sometimes intrusive on and off hum of the furnace, but the clincher was the steady sound of rain that by the big puddle in the back yard appeared to have remained unchanged all night. After getting up and tending to my faithful pets, I settled back down under the covers and soon entered another sleep and a dream in which I knew I was supposed to be at work but couldn't get there because I was sleeping. I did eventually force myself up from the mighty January Sleep-In and arrived in time for my 3 pm shift. There I learned it was not just I who slumbered well. My co-workers had similar wonderful experiences that night and morning.

Last night was another good one, but the house did some creaking and groaning against the forceful winds as if an unwelcome visitor was using my upstairs space. Still it was cozy and sleep fell easily upon me.

Today I had no plans to work. The time was mine alone. Should I stay in and read? Nah...I had done that on Monday and wasn't quite ready to delve into another novel. Since I have been needing a new washer, tired of trying to hold the old Maytag in place during each spin cycle, I decided I had the time to take care of that. Mid-afternoon under the rich pastel sky I headed down Woodruff Road and after some deliberation made a decision. My new front loader will be delivered tomorrow! Washing will be my main activity on Thursday.

I love the way January, at least for me, seems to provide R&R, but also time to catch up on what needs to be done.