Phantoms

[Seen on my lunch break today; 11/3/11]

Monsters under the bed. They still creep up on us if awakened during the night, even if we'd no longer describe them as such. In the dark, phantoms rise and enfold us in their chilly grip. Our minds are vulnerable, suspended between the civilization of consciousness and deep forest of dreams. I woke at 5am, shifted in bed, and then the tentacles crept in -- looming deadline, interrogation, shame, weak-willed justification, self-loathing, rebellion, casting about for escape routes, self-pity, insomnia, coughing and nose-blowing, weeping. 6am. I pushed myself out of my cocoon of flannels and ensconcing down pillows and went to the bathroom, popped an herbal sleep remedy, and went back to bed, with modest success at returning to sleep.

Daylight dispells the ghosties. The deadline is elastic, everyone busy with other things, my manager just returned from a long vacation and still under its magical spell. The phantoms are simply hankies strung from trees.

Comments

[mm]

(o)

[Jean]

It's so lovely to read your writing every day! And it's being the sensitive and talented person who writes so beautifully that leaves you so open to the phantoms, I guess. Hugs.

[Leslee]

Thanks, mm and Jean, for the encouragement!

[Roberta]

It's funny, I was up at 4am and read this post. I love it, it feels so familiar. I posted a comment but must not have clicked post. Glad you are posting daily.

[Relatively Retiring]

Keep going! it's all so enjoyable, and I love those terrifying ghosts!

[Leslee]

Roberta: Thanks for stopping by and for the encouragement. Hope your new job is going well!

RR: Thank you! There are lots of ghosties around the neighborhood to enjoy. :-)