Thursday, August 28, 2008

Siesta!

Something amazing has happened....well, amazing for me. Tropic lover that I am, laid-back lifestyle that I crave and all the writing about and talking about and missing the Tropics, I have NEVER been one for a SIESTA. Don't get me wrong, I could lay down after lunch every day while living in Curaçao. Catch up with reading, the news or just rest, yes, sleeping was something else. I never could, and if by chance fatigue overtook me....I woke up in such a mood, you wouldn't want to talk to me....

All that has changed, I am happy to report. Since my mother's stroke and my endless trips to Panama, a siesta has become part of my daily routine! My sister Laura, who always lived in Latin America and is a firm believer in the power nap, has been traveling with me more than a couple of times. After a morning full of activity, having waken up at the crack of dawn...another first for me!...we would have lunch, and go to bed. Yes, to bed, turn on the air conditioning and she would sleep for fifteen minutes to half an hour. That was all. Laura kept telling me to try to just close my eyes and let go of the tension. Easier said than done.

After a few tries and having no other choice...my mother and her nurse where taking a siesta too..I gave in. Besides, the heat would make it impossible to be abroad at that time of the day. You need to be inside, in the shade. I am happy to report, taking a siesta really works and it is not so difficult. Now I am into my relaxing little time everyday. I guess it involves more than just giving in and let go. It involves the fact that I have nothing to prove to anyone, I have no sense of urgency about the chores to be performed and I know I can achieve what I have to and complete what needs to be done.

Age, more than anything, I gather has come to my rescue. When we aged...did I say that?... we just know who we are, what we want and where we want to be. It is liberating and in my case it is wonderful. When I wake up from my half hour rest, all seems right and I feel so much better. Who would have know? When I was in the Tropics, SIESTA was not part of my hectic life, now that I am not......I cannot do without it!!

2 comments:

Linda Estey said...

Sounds lovely, do you actually fall asleep in that time? Hubby can fall asleep in 5 minutes or less...I envy that! Takes me well over an hour to fall asleep! I want to 'train' myself this technique!
xoxo,
Linda

Mercedes de Marchena said...

I can! and I never thought that possible... just "disconnect" yourself...
XOXO