The Mind at Night

"Just go to sleep.  It will all be better in the morning."

That's what my Mom would always tell me when I was a kid.  

I really didn't like hearing her say that.  I felt like it was dismissing my agony, fear, or whatever ailment I was facing around my bedtime.  But perhaps she knew what she was talking about. 

   Justin was out of town earlier this week.  I'm a tad prone to getting scared when I'm the only adult in the house (mind you, I had three children and a dog and cat with me).  I was doing fine, though... until 11PM when Gandalf, our massive weimaraner, started howling... and howling... and howling.  Just so you know, he doesn't howl.  Ever.  He was spooked, and after a while it started to spook me too.  

   I'd get up and let him outside, peek through the windows, look through the house.  "What is it, boy?" I kept asking.  I'd quiet him down and get back in bed.  I called Justin.  I said prayers.  Before you knew it, I was envisioning horrendous dark figures entering my home and terrifying my children and me.  My body was racing with adrenaline.  What danger is it that Gandalf is picking up on!?  Who is about to crash through our window?  How fast can I dial 911?  Would any neighbors hear me if I scream?  

   I tried to be rational.  I tried to say "NO!" to my fears.  I was on edge.  More howling.  More poking around to see what was wrong.  More howling.  "Shhh, Gandalf.  What is it?"  

   "Maybe I'll just stay awake all night."  I decided.  "I'll just read the whole night.  That might actually be nice to have so much alone time.  Except for how I'll feel tomorrow..."

   Was Gandalf just howling at the chicks on our back porch when they pecked the box?  I took him out there to relate the sound to the chicks.  Still more howling.  "Gandalf, What is it!?"  Could he possibly be upset that I'd just chopped all my hair off (yeah, I did do that... chopped it all off myself!)

   I stood in our darkened house, listening.  Finally, I heard it!  A rush of wings as something slammed into our living-room walls trying to escape into the outdoors.  Flutter, flutter, thud!  I knew just what it was!

A (big) grasshopper.

   Eggnog, the cat, had chased it inside the day before.  Whenever it flew through the dark living-room it spooked Gandalf and he'd howl away.

I flicked on the light and caught the culprit.  I tossed him outside.

No more howling.

Finally at midnight, believe it or not, I slept pretty peacefully.

When I woke up the next morning, I looked out the window of my kids' room and saw this beautiful, peaceful morning.  All the fear and nightmarish horror of the night before seemed so silly, so long ago.  It's funny what the mind can do at night... but don't worry, it'll all be better in the morning.