You Snooze...

i miss napping.

back in my single-digit years, i'd every so often, i'd come home from a hard day of 3rd grade and take a quick snooze, in between finishing my homework and before we sat down for dinner(mom was very adamant that homework was done prior to anything else, after school). it would only be for an hour or two, but i'd wake up and feel refreshed bright-eyed. this may explain why, as a kid, i never slept at night despite my 8:00 bedtime. the occasional post-class nap continued into high school (when my self-imposed bedtime rose to10pm), and even into college. the Xaverian high school and St. John's University libraries were the perfect spots to catch a quick one in between classes, since the former was rarely occupied and the latter was incredibly quiet and had wonderfully comfortable chairs and private cubicles. naturally, i don't consider all the times i fell asleep during Sociology or Ancient Philosphy as "naps".

after college, though, all opportunities for napping ceased. in fact, on the rare opportunity that i could take a nap, it wasn't restful or refreshing at all. nowadaysi wake up from a quick slumber on the express bus feeling disoriented and even more tired than before i fell asleep! truthfully, despite being tired all the time, i feel like napping is a luxury i can't afford. when i'm awake, i'm doing something, either i'm working or reading or doing something at home. if i was home today and had an "hour to spare", i'd probably spend it cleaning the bathroom or bringing the boxes of Christmas decorations, that have been sitting in our bedroom for the last week, up to the storage closet in the loft. i feel guilty if i sleep later than 9am, 'cause it feels like the whole day is gone.

when did this happen? when did sleep become such a valuable commodity?