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Sleep solutions~

8/31/2015

What about the silence, solitude and simplicity of sleep? I’m not a very good sleeper. It takes me a while to fall asleep, and then I wake up a couple of times before getting in a good four hours. I go to bed early (9:30) so I can get up early (5:30). Eight hours ought to do it, but of course I’m probably only sleeping for six of them.

      The other night I learned something, something that has been in the news lately but that I had to learn from my own experience. Do not surf the web right before you go to sleep; you won’t sleep. I was looking for places to stay in Florence when I go in October. Great fun seeing what’s available, but no fun afterwards being awake half the night. My brain was electric with unnecessary views of apartments and possibilities. All my usual tricks to stop thinking, slow down and fall asleep were useless; they didn’t even exist.

     We all know how hard it is to fall asleep after we’ve come home from an evening meeting or party that we’ve chosen to attend. But we don’t need to choose the computer as our final evening activity. Knit, listen to music, read (a hardcopy book or turn you kindle to white on black) and then turn out the light.

      So what about the silence, solitude and simplicity of sleep? I want it but it’s challenge to get it. One of my solutions—turn off the computer.

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Italy in October~

8/28/2015

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Two of our grandchildren are here for a grandcation (visit without parents). Because they are teenagers (need I say more), I have silence, solitude and simplicity in the morning.

     They are about to get up. After I cook them breakfast, I will telephone the airline to change my frequent flyer reservation for Italy from November to October. I just learned that, without consulting me, Pope Francis has planned a four day visit to Florence right in the middle of my visit.

     www.florencedailynews.com reports: “Pope Francis will visit the city of Florence on November 12, 2015. The official announcement has not yet been issued, but preparations are already underway. In those days Florence will be the venue of the Italian Church Forum, organized by CEI, the Italian Bishops’ Conference, hosted by the Archdiocese (Fortezza da Basso, 9 to 13 November 2015).

     "The Pope plans “to spend in Florence the entire day of Wednesday, November 12, 2015. His participation to the conference will be only a part of the visit in the city.

     “According to early rumors, Pope Francis will visit some Florentine institutions that deal with charity and the poor. For the Mass, planned at the Artemio Franchi stadium, is already estimated that participate in more than 50 thousand faithful. This event will be remembered for the arrival of Pope John Paul II in Florence in 1986, when tens of thousands of people gathered around the Pope at the stadium.”

      I offer this detail of the Pope’s visit as I prepare to explain why I want to change my ticket. Where will all those folks coming to see the Pope sleep? Where they will eat? Where will I sleep? Where will I eat?

     P.S. I did it! Italy in October, avoiding the Pope, the crowds, and the rainy season in Florence.

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The daily rhythm of weaving~

8/25/2015

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