Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Night Shift

Sam works nights, when we are all safely tucked into our beds. Still, we expect him to show up for family functions in the daytime. He's a good sport...




Have you ever worked a night shift? It's hard! Sam says he prefers it but I never got used to it. Once, coming home about 8:00 a.m. after a 12 hour + night shift, I scared myself. I dozed off! It was one of those split-second naps but I had to jerk the wheel to keep from taking out the fence of people just a few houses from our own. That really was frightening. After that, when I had to work that night shift, I left work with a cup of ice from the ice machine. As I drove home (about 15-20 minutes) I just kept dropping bits of ice down my shirt. It worked!

Even after coming home that tired, I'd crawl into bed and fall right to sleep but wake up 2 hours later thinking it was time to get up. That night shift is so confusing to a body!

Recently we were talking about a time when we moved the morning after I'd worked a night shift. In fact, I'd worked 8 hours during the day on Friday, napped and then worked an 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift. Mike and his friend, Terry, moved our bed that morning and I made it and went to sleep. When I awoke, we were moved in. That was the weirdest move ever! Maria was two years old so it must have been a tricky day for Mike as well, but I snoozed through it.

Do you have any night shift stories? I hope I never have to work a night shift again but I am so grateful for those who do.

4 comments:

Lisa said...

I worked night shift when I was in College. I really did prefer it. I didn't think it at the time, but turns out that I was a person who was at their prime between mid-night and noon. Going to bed at 3:00 and getting up at 11:00 was perfect for me. I'd be at work at 12:30 and work until 6:30 and be in Chapel by 7:30. Go to my classes. Do a bit of homework and the cycle would start again. Over the years the clock has corrected itself and now I usually turn into a pumpkin by 9:30 - 10:00 pm and wake up by myself around 6:30 - 8:30. I've heard stories that teenage internal clocks are skewed. I totally believe it.

Susan said...

Yes, I believe it as well. I don't think I really ever experienced it myself, though. I remember, even in high school, longing for sleep by about 9:00 pm.

Cindy said...

I would sometimes work the night shift when I was 18 - 19. My first job was at 7-11, working from 3PM - 11:00. Often 'the midnight man' as we called him, would call in sick. So I'd stay and continue working the 11:00 to 7AM shift. I loved it though. There was just something about being up and active when the rest of the world was quiet. I certainly couldn't do it now though! This quote describes me perfectly: I'm "it's 8:30 and you're going to start a movie now?" years old. :)

Susan said...

Ha Ha Ha! I'm also that old!

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