A Room of My Own, But Not for Sleeping

Six hours of solid writing last night and I decided I should try to get some sleep.   My hands and forearms ached from typing.  My eyes blurred from too much time at the computer screen. 

In the six hours, I had mapped out my whole book in greater detail than before, organized the scenes in to four parts, wrote new scenes, and re-read chapters in the two reference books I brought along.  All good work and I was feeling proud of myself for not freaking out over being alone. 

The worst part of the afternoon/night was leaving the room for trips to the European-style common bathroom they have here at Edgefield.  I felt vulnerable to the large, unattended rooms, even worried that I might encounter a ghost.  The building felt too wide open to whoever might want to enter.  And there were plenty of drunken people out in the hallways throughout the night.  I even heard a boozy screaming argument out on the porch next to my room. 

Coming back from the last trip to the bathroom at 10:30 pm, I was happy to see a tall sign blocking the outside door nearest my room.  Presumably it said to enter through the main doors after hours.  Whew.

I clicked off all but the soft bedside light and settled in to the tiny but comfortable twin bed.  I swiped the screen of my Kindle to wake it up and read four chapters of The Boys of My Youth by Jo Ann Beard.  Knowing it was getting late and that I wanted to write more in the morning before check out, I shut down the Kindle, clicked off the light, and attempted to fall asleep. 

It was too hot, then the bed felt too small, then I couldn’t get the pillows right, then it was 1:30 am and I couldn’t have been more wide awake.  I had forgotten that I can’t sleep anywhere but my bed at home. 

After a decade of unrelenting insomnia and six of those reliant on prescription sleeping pills, the sleeplessness went away as if by magic and I rest well most every night now.  Except when I’m not at home. 

Now it’s 6:26 am.  I finished The Boys of My Youth (loved it and highly recommend), worked on more scenes, and am waiting until I hear other guests wake up and start moving around in the hallway so I can go to the bathroom.

Here's a photo of the actual room.  A bargain at $50 a night, even if I never slept.