ROB sits at his DESK with FRENCH RADIO streaming from the WEB and SUNLIGHT streaming from the BALCONY DOOR. He HUMS GOOFILY. |
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Sleep deprivation, right? We know it's a big problem . . . motor impairment as bad as being drunk . . . cause of X0,000 highway deaths blah blah . . . high school and college students developmentally needing more than nine hours per night and averaging just over six. "Walking zombies" Cornell sleep scientist James Maas calls them. And we all know the emotional symptoms, right? Irritability, edginess, inability to tolerate stress, problems with concentration and memory, behavioral, learning or social problems. Duh, right? But it wasn't until a good psychologist friend said . . . |
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PSYCHOLOGIST FRIEND |
After all these years I'm finally realizing that sleep is the biggest single factor in my mood. I see it directly --- after a decent night's sleep I feel happier. It's ridiculously simple. |
. . . that it finally hit home for me. All the fuss and bother people go to fix themselves up with feelgood drugs --- licit and illicit --- could better be spent by creating a cult of sleep . . . sleep as a drug. But not sleep itself . . . not a subculture of 'jammies and dreams and puffy pillows. No, a neurochemistry subculture of the day after a decent sleep. Sleep as the shooting up; resilience as the rush. Wine lovers with a palate for premium Z's. Connoisseurs of alertness. |
FIRST SLEEP USER |
| (Knocks head with fist.) |
Dang, man . . . I am soooooo rested! |
SECOND SLEEP USER |
Oh gawd, tell me about it. I'm remembering fricking everything today . . . everything! Names, dates, stuff I'm supposed to do: boom, boom, boom! Right there. And the stuff I'm supposed to do . . . |
FIRST SLEEP USER |
I know, man, I know . . . |
SECOND SLEEP USER |
. . . the stuff I'm supposed to do, I don't even feel guilty about it. I just feel . . . normal . . . like it's no big deal. |
FIRST SLEEP USER |
I knew you were going to say that! I knew you were going to say that! I was feeling the same exact thing. It's freaky, man. |