Health

is hugely important. And much of the time I've been able to do that.

Several stories. I was an airline ticket agent for ten years at DCA, Washington National Airport. If flights ran late we worked until everything was taken care of. More than once those of us on afternoon shift, scheduled off no later than 11 pm, called up morning shift at 3am and asked if they'd please come in early so we could finally go home. They always did so. Also, I was often scheduled for turn-around, meaning an afternoon shift getting off at 10 or 11 pm one day, and morning the next, starting at 6am. It was brutal, but I was young and did it. But it made me very aware of getting enough sleep.

The very first time I went to London, it was of course an overnight flight. Arrived at the hotel about 9 am, and kind of curled up in the lobby until my room was ready at about noon. I was desperate for sleep, so I set the alarm clock that was in the room for 3pm, figuring that would be enough sleep to refresh me. The alarm never went off. When I finally woke up it was midnight. Oh, crap. The entire day was gone. So I puttered around, took a bath, read for a while, and went back to sleep about 3am. No need for an alarm or a wake-up call, right? The next time I opened my eyes it was 3pm. Oh, dear lord. I hadn't even put up a "Do Not Disturb" sign on my door, so I wonder if the cleaning staff and come in and found me totally zonked out. While I'd slept for a full 24 hours, which was a bit annoying, I have never in my whole life ever been so rested.

Over the years of my life I have done my best to get enough sleep. I'm honestly convinced it's an important part of why I am so very healthy. Too many people are chronically sleep deprived and don't really understand. Getting enough sleep really makes a difference. It really does.