Sleep.... ah, Sweet Sleep...

There is nothing that can beat a good nights sleep.  I say that from experience.  I have had some difficulty sleeping from time to time since Rudy died.  It is normal and expected in grief.  Usually, for me, it is the inability to fall asleep at a 'normal' time.  This week was an exceptional night of not sleeping, but I think it had little to do with grief.

Tuesday evening I met my BFF, Debby Patton, at Targetmaster just before the Delaware state line for a round of shooting on their indoor gun range.  I am in the process of learning to shoot a handgun and have become a member of the gun range for a year.  This will give me unlimited use of the gun range for free and I can use their rental guns (also for free), giving me the opportunity to try several different types of guns before I actually buy my own.  I had gone shooting with my son, Brian, when I visited him recently in Minneapolis.  I enjoyed the experience and thought it might be fun to do here.  Besides, now being a single woman living in the country, having a gun might be a good idea.... just in case!

So, Debby and I were assigned Lane 15 and they gave me a Ruger 22/45 Lite semi-automatic pistol to shoot.  I bought 100 rounds of ammunition and with ear protection (I bought a set for me rather than rent theirs as I would be needing it anyway wherever I shoot) and we headed into the range.  Debby brought her own gun and ammo.  She shot first and then I tried to load my weapon.  I had never shot a semi-auto weapon with a magazine so we called the range officer over and he went over the proper use of the gun.  It took about three or four times of getting assistance before I was confident enough to shoot the gun easily.

As Brian had indicated, the 22 caliber gun was much easier to shoot than the .357 I had enjoyed in Minnesota.  There was not nearly as much kickback.  The two targets we had used were well peppered with holes, so our aim and ability to hit the target was pretty good, for 'girls' who are novices.  It took a little over an hour and was fun.  Afterwards, we went out to dinner and headed home.

I relaxed with Molly before heading to bed.  I had an appointment with my knee doctor the next day.  I could NOT fall asleep for love nor money.  I watched mind numbing TV, nothing.  I laid in the dark with nothing on, nothing.  I got up, put Molly out and I peed, too.  More mind numbing TV.  Nothing.  Back in bed and the last time I looked at the clock and set the alarm for 8:30 AM so I would not miss my appointment, it was 5:30 AM.  I did fall asleep, sometime after that, I was awake before the alarm.

To say that yesterday was a long day is an understatement.  Once back from the doctor, it became very hard to not fall asleep or nap, but if I had done that I would have been in trouble.  So I worked very hard at staying awake.  I crawled into bed at my normal 11:00 PM bed time.  I had the TV on, but quickly turned it off and fell fast asleep.  I came too very slowly and when I looked at the clock, it was 9:00 AM.  I LOVE a good nights sleep.

The only thing I can figure is that the adrenalin from the shooting experience was the culprit in my being unable to sleep.  I am hoping that this will pass as I become more confident with my ability and also after I have selected my own gun and get comfortable with it's operation.

For now, I am back on track and feeling well rested.