“I am WOMAN, hear me roar!” Remember that song? Well, last night I would have rather been singing, “I am woman, hear me snore!” I have a terrible time falling asleep and staying asleep when the husband is not next to me. I thought I was going to keel over from exhaustion when he worked the graveyard shift for 18 long months.

It’s rare that we aren’t sleeping in the same bed, but occasionally his work requires him to be away from home, as was the case last night. I rarely travel anywhere without him, but I have visited friends out of state alone, and did spend one night at work while waiting for a baby elephant to be born*.

A good night’s rest is essential for good health, even more so for me due to having chronic migraines. I try to keep a regular sleep schedule as variations can trigger a headache. The last time I looked at the clock last night it was after midnight, so I kept thinking, “If I don’t fall asleep I’m going to have a migraine in the morning.” Unfortunately, that thought process is not soothing or helpful.

Since I have such a difficult time sleeping without the husband, I’ve been surprised by recent reports indicating that couples sleep better alone and should consider separate beds or even separate bedrooms. Hmmm, even when the husband snored (before having his deviated septum fixed), I slept better with him than without. His presence is not only comforting, but necessary for me to feel rested.

So, I need some extra **finesse, and a LOT of coffee to get me though today. I anticipate a very early bedtime tonight!

*I was a media/public relations specialist with the Oregon Zoo

**finesse (skill, flair, grace elegance, poise, assurance)