“OH, HOW I HATE TO GET UP IN THE MORNING”

 

 

“OH, HOW I HATE TO GET UP IN THE MORNING”

 

This song, written by Irving Berlin, about soldiers and revelry, is the perfect description my morning life for as long as my memory allows.

 

As an infant, I’ve been told, reviving me from sleep was not only an exercise in futility, but a serious threat to whomever did the arousing attempt. No one messes with a sound sleeper!

 

Then, the unthinkable happened – I had to attend school! First of all, I had no desire to do so and even less of a desire to be awakened for it.

 

This wakeup-for-school-thing lasted until I finished my educational career many, many years later. Why could not one absorb more, if taught later in the day? Is it not true that we learn much more efficiently with a good night’s sleep? So, why did I have to get up so darn early?

 

Unfortunately, it got worse when I entered the Air Force, where they take a very dim view of reporting late for duty, always babbling some drivel about disciplinary proceedings or something called a court martial. Ridiculous!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I figured the return to civilian life would allow me long, glorious sleep, but I had to disturb this precious sleep by earning a living. Oh, the horror! There really is not any good time to go to work or to go to work at all.

 

Finally, at long last, I retired, allowing me to do anything I pleased, when I pleased. Wrong! “Let’s play tennis at seven before it gets too hot”. “Get an early tee-time before it gets too crowded”. “We’ll meet early to avoid the traffic”.

 

The old garbage of “I am a morning person” and “The early bird gets the worm are simply balderdash! Let me sleep!

 

To complete Berlin’s song: “…. Oh, how I’d love to spend the rest of my life in bed”.

 

Post script: A confession: I rose early enough to awaken my daughter and son for school by raising the blinds, pulling down their blankets or violently pulling the pillows from under their heads. Sweet revenge!