I’ve reached a new (and perhaps frightening) level of productivity.
Last night I went a’sleepwalking. It’s something I did quite a bit as a kid and still do as an adult on occasion. I’ve been known to carry on long conversations with people, brush my teeth, walk off into the woods, gets dressed for work, and even eat a bowl of cereal, all while sleepwalking.
About ten years ago, I was sleepwalking when the veterinarian called us in the middle of the night to inform us that my dog, Kaleigh, who they were holding for observation, was not constipated as he had thought. A disc in her back had ruptured, requiring emergency surgery. I approved the $9,000 procedure that had a 50/50 chance of survival and a 50/50 chance that she would never walk again on her own.
I was asleep during the entire phone call and have no recollection of it. I made important medical decisions and spent large sums on money while I was asleep. I did not find out that my dog had been in surgery until the vet called me the next morning to tell me that Kaleigh had survived the first of two parts of the surgery.
It was quite a confusing phone call, as you might imagine.
Last night I went a’sleepwalking. I only know this because on my way back to bed I tripped on some clutter near the stairs, hit my head, and awoke. I was surprised to find myself in the living room, but I was even more surprised this morning to find that I had worked on my next book while sleepwalking. The document was open on my laptop, and words that I have no recollection of writing were staring back at me.
About 500 words in all.
They don’t actually fit the chapter that I am working on but are the perfect lead for a chapter two or three away.
I’m not sure how long it took me to write those words, and I’m not sure if sleepwalking counts as quality rest, but it was remarkable to discover that I had accomplished so much while theoretically resting.
I’m going to try to do it again tonight, which is to say I’m going to tell myself to do it again and see what happens.
This could be my new thing.
