Writers Island - DESIRE

How often have you made that phone call early in the morning without thinking about the time of day or whether you'd be disturbing the person you were calling?

Since retiring early morning calls happen more frequently and unfortunately my response is less than gracious. Do people get up earlier as they become older or have they been that way all their lives? Why do people say that the morning is the best time of the day?

Well ... not for all of us!

During my working life I was often getting home as dairy farmers were rising. Three plus decades in the hospitality industry made me a night owl.

We were the people who organised your social life. We were the people who watched you party till wee small hours. When the customers were swept out, the tills counted and the ash trays washed it was time to sit back, unwind. The time flew, next thing the sun was peeking over the horizon. We were the ones who'd go home to get the family organised then sleep during the day, sometimes we'd go out for breakfast as our previous night customers had done for dinner.

There was a whole lifestye out there of people who'd kept the city running. The the cops, the firemen, the journo's, medico's, nurses, ambulance drivers, cleaners, people from all walks of life it was our 5pm. As the five o'clockers had no immediate desire to head straight home for a good night sleep, neither did we!!

The night owl lifestyle reversed many body clocks. Even in retirement the hours of that era continue. The 'spark' or 'second wind' hits as the clock nears midnight - its difficult to alter.

I found the following online ... author unknown ...

A Morning Person ...

I woke early one morning
The earth lay cool and still
When suddenly a tiny bird
Perched on my window sill

He sang a song so lovely
So carefree and so gay

That slowly all my troubles
Began to slip away.

He sang of far off places
of laughter and fun,

It seemed his very trilling,
brought up the morning sun.

I stirred beneath the covers
crept slowly out of bed,

Then I gently lowered the window
and crushed his *(#$^ - ing head!!!

… please, no irate responses from the bird lovers.

This little ditty typifies it for many night owls and insomniacs.

So next time you meet someone new and swap phone numbers why not ask “When's the best time to call”?

Better go check the answering machine's on in case anyone dares phone before 10am ...