Friday, June 24, 2011

Movies in the Fridge

"Mom, is there any particular reason why the Netflix DVD is in the fridge?"  This was Jacqueline's question to Daphne a few mornings ago, and although Daphne didn't have a clue how a DVD ended up in the fridge she didn't have to wonder long: Papa.  Seriously?  No one's ever told you that all DVDs have a "Refrigerate after opening" instruction on the label?  All joking aside, while I do not have a memory of putting the movie in the fridge, there is little doubt in our household about who the true culprit must be. For the past few weeks I've been going through one of my cycles of sleeplessness due to insomnia and restless legs. The morning after the DVD incident, I woke up at 12:30 am to find the entryway lights on and the front door wide open.  No one else will own-up to it, and I have no memory of opening the door - but more than likely I was sleep-walking, or possibly sleep-watering the flowers on the front deck.  As amusing as these nighttime incidents can be, there's a very scary reality that I could actually leave the house at night and have an accident.

The Lord and I have had many, many conversations about my chronic suffering due to restless legs, and to date He's never given an answer to my countless pleadings for healing.  I know my brother John can relate to what I'm about to say, but after trying countless home-remedies (even as bizarre as placing a bar of soap at the end of the bed at night), vitamin supplements, massage, acupuncture, etc I have become a true skeptic when someone calls me or writes with the latest RLS treatment.  I have an appointment with a local chiropractor next week who's absolutely sure that he can provide real relief: what can I say?  I'm tired (no pun intended) of getting my hopes up only to have them come crashing to the ground with the next sleepless night. You know what the hardest part of all this is?  Not being able to remember the last time I didn't feel tired.  None of our friends here in Conifer have ever known me when I was full of energy and gusto for life.  Even my daughter Nicole said yesterday that she can't remember life without her Dad always being worn-out.  I can probably count on one hand the number of times I've driven after dark in the last five years;  That role always falls to Daphne, because it's simply too dangerous for me to get behind the wheel.  Don't get me wrong: I'm truly not complaining.  I love our life here in Colorado and our new church family at The Journey, and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.  I just find myself longing for the days so many years ago when I was mentally alert, engaged and full of energy.  

On a lighter note:  tonight is our first "Movies in the Meadows" event for the community.  A bunch of us spent the morning yesterday clearing out a spot to put up our big screen - even though it now looks tiny when you step back and look at it from a distance.  We'll be showing "Ironman II" tonight, then on Sunday Michael has the challenge of finding God in the message of Ironman.  I'll be paying attention, because I have to do the same thing next week with True Grit and the week after with Secretariat.  The weather report is for clear skies tonight, so we should have a grand kick-off for Friday Night Fun.

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