Sleep is a great thing.  I used to take it for granted when I could sleep just about anywhere, anytime.  But sometimes for me there’s more to sleep than just closing my eyes and being dead to the world.  Here are some examples:

1.  Sometime in 1987 I was at the airport, waiting for a flight for Baguio to meet up with Red and the kids.  Red was posted at PMA (after being implicated in the “alleged” RAM coup God Save the Queen of November 1986 but that’s another story) and Kitinn and Kris were on holidays.  I was booked on a 7:30am flight and was sitting happily in an uncomfortable seat at the departure area.  Before long the PA boomed, calling for all passengers for the Baguio flight.  I got up quickly and proceeded to the gate, showed my ticket only to be told my flight had left an hour ago and this was the next flight!  I was asleep for an hour and didn’t even know it.  I begged the lady to let me on this flight.  This was pre-911 and because I only had a carry-on bag, a supervisor mumbled then scribbled something on my ticket and a clipboard, and let me on!  I spent the 25 minute-flight to Baguio trying to figure out what the hell happened back there.

2.  In 1988 I was on a business trip to Geneva.  I was working for the Orient Airlines Association (seconded from PAL) and as Secretary of the Task Group on Automation, I often travelled to Montreal and Geneva for 1-2 day meetings.  Back at the hotel I was dead tired, having just arrived from a 25-hour trip the night before, and surviving a full day’s meeting.  But not too tired to try out this Swiss hair removal cream I bought earlier at the local shop.  I applied it on my underarms and stretched my arms, waiting out the 20-minute setting period.  Next thing I remember I got up and my pits were sore as hell!  Looking at the clock I realised I’ve been asleep with the cream on for almost 3 hours – way too long for even the most stubborn hair!   The cream zapped all my underarm hair alright, but the next day at the meeting my armpits were sooo sore I had to spread my arms the whole time at the meeting.

3.  On another trip for work at OAA, this time in Montreal I just finished a meeting, and was relaxing in my hotel room  and preparing for my flight out the next day.  I was watching TV and smoking – yes I was stupid back (or even?) then.  When I was ready for bed I emptied the full ashtray in the bathroom bin and was half asleep by the time I plonked down in bed.  I don’t know how long it took or why I woke up before my alarm clock went off but I did.  And whoa – the room was full of smoke.  The butts in the ashtray that I tossed in the bathroom bin weren’t out completely and they were smoldering amongst the tissues in the bin!  I don’t know why but to this day I thank God that the smoke alarms didn’t go off.  I opened the windows – yes you could back then – and looked down 16 floors to the street.  I was half expecting to see firetrucks down there.  There was none and the whole street was quiet.  The room was so smoky planes wouldn’t be able to land if it was an airport.   Quickly I cleaned the bin, opened more windows to let the cold Canadian winter breeze come in and thanks to fatigue I slept all 2 hours before my check out time.  At the check out counter it crossed my mind to mention about the smoke alarms in my room not working.  Then I thought I’d better not.

4.  I started gymming again about 2 years before I retired, and continued with with even more verve and frequency. I do to Body Vive, Yoga and Zumba about 5-6 times a week.  Body Vive and Zumba are fun and get the heart pumping.  But yoga after Zumba is simply great. Yoga class ends with a 10 minute relaxation/meditation time.  You lie with eyes closed with hands on the side, and body completely sunk on the mat.  On one yoga class, Pauline the instructor told us how to set ourselves down in her soothing voice.  The next thing I knew, I stirred because the lights had been turned on and the others were already rolling up their mats or have left.  I was asleep the whole time!  Kitinn was about 2 mats away preparing to pack up and pretending not to know me.  She later asked me what I remembered last before I woke up.  It was Pauline saying, “now close your eyes and let yourselves go…”  It was the best 10-minute nap ever.

5.  In 1987 (God Save the Queen) I had just got home after a loong flight from Geneva.  I was soo tired that once I got home from the airport all I could think of was sleeep, sleeep and more sleeep.  Red was at PMA in Baguio at the time.  After chatting with my Nanay and Tatay (who were visiting from Davao then), and Kitinn and Kris over a light dinner I headed for bed when I was handed a note from Tito Legaspi which said, “Red is Ok.  Stay at home.  Hope we celebrate soonest.”  What the?  I was too catatonic to make sense of it so I went to bed without giving it any more thought.  Within seconds I was dead to the world.  About 4:00am I was woken up by a frantic call from a journalist, Marites Danguilan-Vitug, asking me why I was still in Camp Aguinaldo.  She said there was a foiled attempt to raid Malacanang and the “rebels” (whom we didn’t have to name) were holed up in Camp Aguinaldo and I needed to take leave Aguinaldo.  I mumbled thanks and something about not knowing what she was talking about, told her Red wasn’t home and the kids were asleep, and was tired from a loong flight  so had to hung up to go back to sleep.  Then at about 7am I got woken up by our househelp saying there was trouble out in the camp with armed soldiers running around and some shots being fired.  What the!!!  I was so fed up I quickly got dressed and walked 50 meters to the Honasans’ home to find out what the hell was going on.  I desperately wanted to go back to sleep.  When I got there Greg was in full battle gear, his wife Jane and the kids were about and there were so many soldiers around the house.   I was still stunned when Greg with his usual charming smile told me not to worry, that Red was coming down from Baguio soon, andthat  this will soon be over.  Then I was realllly awake.  This story is continued in……(place link here)