Every two hours.
12am. 2am. 4am. 6am.
I woke.
—
I read that the REM cycle lasts just over 90 minutes.
Perhaps mine take a bit longer.
I laid in bed and thought of the various skills and hobbies I’ve attempted to master over the years.
When I was about 10 or 11, I saw a martial arts movie on TV and thought: “I can do that.”
And then proceeded to acquire a long stick to twirl around in a dangerous and potentially awe-inspiring fashion.
At 17, after seeing Labyrinth, I became convinced that contact juggling was about the coolest thing ever. I found a how-to book on-line and began practicing with a clear acrylic ball.
I got…well, not good.
Not even decent.
But I did get comfortable.
Around 24, I tried woodcutting for about ten minutes. I bought about $40 dollars of equipment, and then say out on my patio with a chain mail glove on my left hand and began whittling.
I thought the act would free up my mind to think. Instead, I spent most of my time cursing my lack of fine dexterity. I put the woodcutting equipment in my attic.
Last year I bought a harmonica. My grandfather used to play ‘Oh Clementine’ with vibrato and I wanted to carry on this fine tradition.
So far I’ve managed to get down “Scarborough Fair”, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”, and “Popeye”.
Some of my interests have lasted a bit longer. I’m on my second motorcycle. I’m going hang gliding for a second time next week. I learned how to bake a mean cinnamon walnut bread from scratch.
And this writing thing seems to have stuck with me.
—
Two hours is not nearly long enough.