Sleep Deprivation is Kinda Cool

I am sitting here feeling a little sleep-deprived, which is not a bad thing. I am actually getting a bit of a kick out of it. It is not unlike being a little tipsy through alcohol. Everything is softened, I am in a bit of a haze and lost in my own thoughts. It is quite tranquil really.

It reminds me of a time when at the age of twelve or thirteen, I was on a school trip to France. We were staying in small chalets on a holiday complex for a week. At night-time, being somewhat mischievous, amorous and cheeky, I and a few others would sneak into other chalets, occupied by girls.

Nothing untoward happened and we had a happy little arrangement under the guise that our shower did not work. At least, it was a happy arrangement until we got caught, but that is a story for another day. Essentially, it was all very playful and suggestive, but innocent enough.

Anyway, one night in particular sticks in the mind because we did an “all-nighter.” It was only two or three of us that took on the challenge of going through the whole night without a minute of sleep and it was quite an achievement for twelve-year old kids. It also led to the most surreal experience the next day.

The best way I can really describe it is that I 'woke up' in the middle of an outdoor market, in a French town. I had no idea where I was or how I had got there. I certainly had no recollection of a coach journey, nor of any walking, nor of how I happened to have possession of a rucksack, notepad and clipboard.

As far as I can recall, I spent the next little while trying to 'come to' and tentatively following people in order to gauge my whereabouts. Presumably, I had been in some sort of blackout and had sleep-walked through various stages of our educational excursion.

Amazingly, no supervising adults appeared to have noticed. In hindsight, they were probably in their own alcohol-induced haze.

To return to the present, I have not embarked on any all-nighters recently, but it is true that I have not had much sleep over the past few days. It is not insomnia either, as I have been consciously staying up late and getting up early. I have mentioned that I am getting a bit of a kick out of the haze, so maybe it is my mischievous and cheeky nature returning. Maybe it never left. Nevertheless, I suppose I had better be on the watch for any blackouts. In the meantime, it is kinda cool!