Blog Class Homework

Homework: On Monday night our instructor told us
that during the coming week we were
to jot down our thoughts on waking and
start taking pictures while still in bed.

“Wow!" I thought, "how interesting!”
Next morning I wasn’t so sure.

I awoke from a dream at 5:12 on Tuesday morning.
In the dream a Google page was in front of me with my
computer’s cursor on the word, Knights,
and as I looked at it I was wondering how my husband’s
former small business got on the web!
On the following mornings there were no dreams
to analyze. My thoughts were mundane.
Is Harry still asleep? What time is it? What day?
What’s my schedule for today?
If I had projects I'd think about them and plan.
If my husband was awake I'd turn on the
bedside radio to NPR and Morning Edition.
I am a news junky.

My second thought was, TAKE PICTURES!
My camera waited on the small chest I use as a bedside table.
Although the bedroom is completely dark, lights from
outside cast a rectangular shadow of tree branches high
on the wall next to the bed. But it was so black the flash went off
creating a picture with no shadows, only an off-white wall.
Flash off, head on pillow, arms jammed against my body,
I breathed out slowly wishing to be motionless.
After a long exposure, Click, and I have the picture.
It’s good enough.
Suddenly my camera went black.

Legs swung over the side of the bed, feet on the floor, hand
switched on lights, and the mystery’s solved.
Camera battery was dead.
With lights on I was back in bed. On my side, on my back,
head plumped up on pillows so I could see my legs
stretched out with my feet at the other end.
Sitting up, I shot away. My camera has no Image Stabilizer
and I had too much handshake.
There was glare, blur, and dull. So much I didn’t like.
I wanted natural light, my tripod, and more options.

Over the next few days in the bedroom with afternoon light,
my camera, and tripod I experiment, look, and think.
Does everyone have habits or necessities that signal sleep time?
My husband always reads in bed under cool sheets. I snuggle in
under a warmed blanket before putting on wrist braces.
Next come the ear plugs. Lozenges sit nearby in case of a dry
throat, and always there’s a tissue.

My short, sturdy, little chest holds all my bedtime supplies.
One needn’t be a detective
to look at the drawers and know which ones I use most.
And finally, there’s the sweet little chair always serving
graciously, accepting the fact
that it was made solely to be put upon.
I realize I have a fondness for these inanimate friends.