Do I really need to take an afternoon nap?

For the past ten years, the afternoon nap has been sacred. I cannot function without it, and the few days here and there when I was forced to skip it did not come out well, not at all.

A nap is a good thing. My naturopath tells me a short nap can be equivalent to three extra hours of sleep. I always wake up feeling refreshed, even I'm asleep for just five minutes. I also have to plan my day around this. Between the hours of one and three, I can't just be out anywhere without a bed handy.

But yesterday, I postponed my nap to work on the float for the parade. Everyone in the dance group is supposed to pitch in, and 1pm was the only time I had. I ate lunch and forced myself out the door, feeling a little groggy. By the time I was at the float construction station, five minutes later, I had a spring in my step.

It was a beautiful day. I worked energetically for an hour, then helped everyone clean up and walked back home, feeling strong and alert.

"Boy, I don't need a nap at all," I thought to myself. I took my antibiotics, which I usually take right after lunch, and I immediately started to feel sleepy. I lay down and slept for an hour.

And again today, I walked over the library after lunch to pick up some books, and didn't feel sleepy at all. I have yet to take my antibiotics, but when I do, I'll probably need my nap.

So am I safe to conclude that if it weren't for the antibiotics, I might get by without a nap?

Perhaps the point is moot, since I am, in fact, taking antibiotics right now. It gives me hope, however, that someday I won't need the antibiotics or the nap, which means I could do things-- like say, hold down a job, or go to an all-day dance workshop, or go to an all-day anything. It just might happen.

(This picture, "Sleeping Woman in Blue", is by Konstantin Somow.)

THE END OF AN ERA

Well, the blog has been getting quite a few comments lately, causing me to realize it's been two months since I posted. So here's a quick update:

1. I am done with the Rocephin injection! Hooray!!! Many thanks to the Poet who gave me the injection for nine of the 11 + months, even when it was more of a pain in his ass than in mine to do it for me. And thanks to my Mom, who did it for two and a half months and was tortured by it every time.

Also thanks to Abby, Samer, Nina and Ben, my casual encounters (so to speak).

OK, end of Oscar speech.

2. I got over the virus I mentioned in the last post, but it took a long month to do it. Have been back at normal speed since the end of March.

3. I am now on Omnicef, Clarithromycin and grapefruit seed extract, which feels like a dream compared to the last antibiotic combination I was on. Still taking tons of supplements, and giving myself Heparin injections, and must take a nap every afternoon. It also feels like I'm on the last lap of my treatment. Just one more year to go?

4. Progress: I am now dancing, riding my bike instead of driving, and running about three miles three times a week. Thanks to my amazing myofascial release therapist, the tendonitis is in the past. I've been taking Samba classes since February, and on June 19th I will be in the Fremont Soltice Parade with Samba dancers. Hooray!