I Can Do That In My Sleep: Just A Gummy Bear

It was inevitable.  The day was coming that I'd head off into the real world and unleash the sleepwalker on new and unsuspecting friendships.  And once it had, it was here, and it was here to stay.

These are the events that followed.

J U S T  A  G U M M Y  B E A R

When I first left home, I was seventeen years old and wonderfully curious about the world.  In many ways, life was at its peak and everything was an adventure.  And I'm thankful to say that the fun hasn't yet ended. (Click here if life has become a bit colorless for you.  I have some thoughts about that.)

My journey began in Colorado, and as I write the words, I'm tempted to quote the great Lloyd Christmas, but I won't.  Nevertheless, the Rocky Mountains were, indeed, rocky.  Beauty was in abundance and I was as ignorant as a young adult could be... but I didn't know that.

On a quick side-note, if you ever get the chance to visit the state, consider climbing Pikes Peak!  It won't let you down.  And ask the locals about the old railroad tracks in Manitou Springs.  There's a great hike there as well!

So I had made my way to Colorado Springs and joined a group of like-minded people doing some great work.  We were called "theFurnace" and I never asked why there wasn't a space in between the two words.  But to this day, I feel a little insecure when I write it out, thinking that the reader will assume I didn't catch the mistake.

Thanks, guys! ;)

During my first year in the Springs, I lived with a wonderful family, who hosted my stay.  We'll call them the Smith's for this post.  The Smith's were great and two of their sons, Stephen and Devin, were also in the Furnace (I write it this way, too, sometimes because it makes me feel less anxious).

Stephen and I shared a room and for whatever reason, I forgot to tell him about my sleepwalking.  It was an innocent mistake and ended up making for quite the introduction when just a few days into my stay, things got a little crazy.

I don't think he'll ever forget this story...

So it's the middle of the night and we're both in a deep sleep.  Stephen awakes to a sound in the room and something patting on the bed/touching his feet.  Using his cellphone as a light, he points it towards the end of the bed and finds me standing there.

And know this: if Stephen wanted to leave the room, he'd need to pass by me first.  In a sense, I was blocking his way.  So there I stood and I'm using my hands to pat around at the foot of his bed.  But that wasn't all!  Apparently, I had something to say as well.

"There's a demon!" I exclaimed, pointing towards a desk in the corner.

Now realizing the seriousness of the situation, Stephen began to scurry around in his bed, hoping to find that perfect position for... encountering demons, I guess.   

Wait, what was it again?

Try putting yourself in his shoes for a second.  Can imagine how intense this must have been for him?  I mean, for all he knew, this new roommate of his had the ability to see demons in the middle of the night, had seen one, and wanted to tell him about it (in a loud voice).  It was a lot to take in and the sense of urgency didn't help, either (because there was a demon in the room and it was there now).

So there he was, pointing his phone all around the room in search of some mysterious force.  And the poor guy doesn't even know that I sleepwalk yet!  But it gets better.  A moment later, I casually turn away and start walking towards my bed.

"Oh never mind," I say.  "It was just a gummy bear.  We eat those in theFurnace." 

(And believe it or not, I even said it without the space in between the two words.)

I then get back into my bed - still asleep - and nestle in.  But Stephen's wide awake and his adrenaline's pumping.  Is there a demon or isn't there?  And was it really just a gummy bear or - wait, what am I saying??  That's ridiculous!  Who is this guy and why's he in my room?!

I remained unresponsive as Stephen struggled to make sense of it all...
(Or to fall back asleep.)

Quick Bonus Story: One night, Stephen's girlfriend was over and they were in the living room.  I had already fallen asleep and began to sleepwalk.  But the thing was, I was in an angry stupor and pacing all around the bedroom.  It actually freaked them out, and especially his girlfriend (now wife).  I remember waking up and seeing them staring at me from the hallway.  I felt embarrassed and didn't tell them that I had woken up.

I just went back to bed.

<Sleepwalking Adventure #3  

   Sleepwalking Adventure #5>

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I Can Do That In My Sleep: Man In The House

Growing up, my sister, Whitney, got a front row seat to all that is sleepwalking.  Her and I each had bedrooms in the upstairs of our old farmhouse, and with the isolation of the countryside, nightfall was especially creepy for a young girl.  But to make matters worse, I'd often stand outside of her bedroom door and talk to people who weren't really there.

And then this happened.

Bless her soul...

M A N  I N  T H E  H O U S E

To set the scene a bit, we had experienced some unusual things at that house over the years.  A man once came onto our property in the middle of the night, drunk, and banging on our front door.  He made a great ruckus and wouldn't leave.  Another night, a mountain lion showed up wanting to feed our dogs to her cubs.  This was the first and only time I've heard the eerie screams they can make.  Then another time, we found that someone had been sleeping in our barn... a place that I often slept.  Blankets had been left behind and we wondered if they'd ever return.  And then probably worst of all, we arrived home once to find our back door kicked in and our German Shepherd, Bear, out in the front yard.  He had escaped from his enclosure and let's just say this...

Nothing Had Been Stolen From The House!

That's him

With all that in mind, one night, Whitney and I had decided to sleep on the couch downstairs.  We had one of those L-shaped sofas and it fit us comfortably.  This was our living room and that's the couch...

And not to get all Inception on you, but here's a quick story within a story.  Do you see the stairs in that picture?  Well, these are the stairs that led to our bedrooms.  And since time was of the essence, I'd often skip a stair with each step when I'd take them.  Our parents bedroom closet was beneath the stairs and as creaky as they were, it was difficult to use them without making a lot of noise.

This was their bedroom, the closet, and two of Bear's offspring, Wyatt & Lexy!

Well, one night, as my parents slept, they heard something fly down the stairs.  My father went out to see what was going on.  He found me in the middle of the room, just standing there, and told me to go back to bed.  I did as he said.  But this is crazy because it's likely that I had actually skipped a stair with each step and ran down them... in my sleep... possibly making me the world's first sleep-runner!  But either way, I had successfully used the stairs while sleeping, which is still quite impressive!

And speaking of these stairs, and the window there in the picture, I recently wrote about one of my fondest memories from this house, which they helped create.

You can find it here.

So Back To The Main Event!

Whitney and I were now fast asleep on the L-shaped couch downstairs.  The moon was high and the critters were out.  It was late into the night when she awoke to a strange figure hovering over her.  Without hesitation, she went on the attack and slapped the figure in the face...

... twice!

I would know as it was I who stood over her and whose face now stung with pain.  So there we both were, terror-stricken in the moonlight.  Whitney was screaming and I was crying.  It didn't take long for my father to emerge like a warrior, ready to slaughter whoever it was that was causing us trouble!  However, he didn't exactly think twice about what he was - or wasn't - wearing.

And for good reason!

(I'm not sure what his excuse was here, though...)

Upon realizing that no one was in the house, he turned back for some clothing as my mother came to comfort us.  Soon after, my father reemerged in a rob and took a look around the house in case someone had, in fact, broke in.  But he would find no one as it was I and only I who had instigated all the chaos.

And that was that.

Now I know what you must be thinking... My Poor Sister!  And yes, she's been through a lot.  But while she's endured bits and pieces of my sleepwalking, I'm not sure that her troubles quite compare to mine.

But who's counting?

<Sleepwalking Adventure #2   

  Sleepwalking Adventure #4>

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Travel Guide

True Stories : Travel & Adventure : Life On Purpose : Creative Writing : Other Wrightings

Subscribe to Embark on an Adventure with Annabel and Kyfa as they
Journey to the Wonderful Land of Otcrea!

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T R U E  S T O R I E S

Dream Interpretation: My Dreams : Dream Interpretation: Your Dreams
Dream Interpretation: My Gift to You

A Discovery in China : Warrior Princess : An E-mail to Remember
A Midnight Swim : Walk of Shame : Man In The House
Just A Gummy Bear : The Dog-Man

T R A V E L  &  A D V E N T U R E

The Value Of Travel : The Hidden Pool
Distant Lands : Adventures in China
The Airplane Crash : Mt. Apo

L I F E  O N  P U R P O S E

Keep It Anonymous
Daring Greatly : What She Loves : Whispers From China : Once Upon A Time
So Close, It's Scary : Scribbles : Is Life Really So Boring?
 The Real You : 3-weeks : Then Say It!

Sea Lions : Whispers of Joy : Foundations

C R E A T I V E  W R I T I N G :  S H O R T  S T O R I E S  &  P O E M S

Thoughts from a Ship at Night : Adventures with Kyfa
The Decision : Under the Water : The Grasses of Wisdom
~

Movements of the Candle : Into A Dark Forest : Through and Through
I Long To See Alaska : If The World Ends Tomorrow
A Winter Piece

O T H E R  W R I G H T I N G S

The Official Ultimate Playlist
Josh Garrels : Eric Metaxas : Planet Narnia
Life in Music : Floorboards : Islands
Shut Up And Laugh! : We Worked At A Zoo : The Unknown
Birthday Candles : And Then, It Began

C O M E  S A Y  H E L L O !

This is my e-mail address.  You can reach me here at any time.

Thanks for stopping by! 

wrightings.blog@gmail.com

P.S. If you like music, this Spotify Playlist is for you!

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I Can Do That In My Sleep: Walk of Shame

If you're just joining all the craziness, I'm telling stories about a very strange, and slightly embarrassing, aspect of my life... I sleepwalk.  I'm a sleepwalker.  I talk, I walk, and apparently, I dive over other people in my sleep regardless of my face's opinions on violence.  So yeah, things get a bit crazy now and then.

And this next story only adds to all the fun.

W A L K  O F  S H A M E

The following events occurred in Las Vegas, Nevada.  I can't say that I love the place, but our family has had some fun there over the years.  I particularly enjoyed a ride called Big Shot, which launches you to the top of the Stratosphere Hotel, 1,081 feet up!  It was good fun and you should try it.

One year in particular, though, my parents told my sister and I that we could each bring a friend along.  I invited my friend, Chet (not his real name), and he decided to join us.  So we all loaded up and headed out on the open road for a 900+ mile drive from Northern Idaho.

I always love a good road-trip!

Once we had arrived, we got settled in to our giant room of a place and started having fun.  There was much to do and we did it all.  We saw some great shows, ate some amazing food, and explored the best of it.

And then the fun began.

One night, I remember having a disconcerting dream.  In the dream, I found myself in someone else's  home.  I didn't know how I got there, but I was aware that the residents were strangers to me.  And that it was nighttime... and that I needed to get out as quickly and quietly as possible.  The realism of dreams can be insane, and it was all quite unsettling.

So my mission was simple: Get The Heck Out.

As quietly as I could, I found the front door and went to it.  And not far from there was another door.  It led into the master bedroom and I knew that the owners were there, fast sleep on the other side.  At this, my heart started to pound a bit faster.  One wrong move and I knew that I'd be in a real bad situation.  I wasted no time in finding the door knob.

I remember turning it as quietly as I could, opening the door, and then closing it behind me with just as much care.  From there, I didn't know where to go; I just started wandering.  All I knew was that I didn't want to be anywhere near that house.

Around this time, my dream began to fade and, like a cruel joke, reality kicked in.  I awoke to find myself standing in front of a vending machine.  I immediately looked around and saw some elevators to my left.  "Where am I?" I thought to myself.  I really didn't know!  But it wasn't long before memories of our trip to Vegas found their way back into my mind.  And then I realized something awful...

I wasn't wearing any clothes.

Well, to be fair, I was wearing boxers.  But for a young boy in such an awkward situation, I might as well been completely naked!  The only positive thing was that before I snuck away, I was smart enough to steal a blanket!  It was a smart move, I must say.  I had wrapped a bedspread around my shoulders.  But now there was a new problem.

Not only did I not know where in the hotel I had wandered to, I didn't have a room key on me!

If you've ever slept-walk before, you know how disorienting it can be when you wake up.  You find yourself trying to remember things by piecing together whatever you can.  And while it's not a fun experience, per se, it can be exhilarating!

This is especially true when you find yourself unclothed in a random corridor of a large hotel and you don't have a room key or any knowledge of your room number.  And should you locate the front desk for help, you surely don't have a logical alibi for the situation you're in.  I can just see it now.  "Uuuh-huh, Mr. Salisbury.  'Sleepwalking,' you say?  Yeah, we get that all the time around here.  Your room number's 1402."

Welcome to my life.

Thankfully, none of these immediate concerns made a difference.  As it turned out, I hadn't wandered too far from the room and it was easy to locate.  But I still didn't have a room key!  As I approached the door, I was freaking out a little.  What if I had to knock and wake everyone up?  What would my parents say?  After all, we're in Sin City and I'm locked out of our room in the middle of the night... 

In my underwear!

Wait, how did that get in there??

As I came to the door, I was now quite panicky.  But to my greeaat relief, I had left it cracked open!  "Whew!  That was a close one," I thought.  I snuck back into our room, found the bedroom Chet and I were in, and slipped back under the covers with no questions asked. 

But while this story had a good ending, I can't say the same about this next one...

<Sleepwalking Adventure #1  

   Sleepwalking Adventure #3>

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I Can Do That In My Sleep: A Midnight Swim

If you know me, or if we've ever slept together, you most likely already know these stories.  But for those of you who haven't had the privilege, and for everyone in between, these stories are for you. 

Come with me as we explore the night through the hilarious - and sometimes dangerous - wanderings of a sleepwalker!

A  M I D N I G H T  S W I M

Growing up, my family spent Thanksgivings at the Coeur d'Alene Resort in beautiful Northern Idaho.  It was a wonderful place to create memories with the lake and the woods, a really neat downtown, and a cabin-like lobby that had a great, big fireplace in it.  Songs of Christmas serenaded the city amidst lake cruises and light shows and other things like that.

It was special.

This is the view

One year, my uncle Kevin decided to join us there and he and I ended up sleeping in the same bed.  My mom and dad were in the bed next to ours and my sister, Whitney, was down below on a comfy sofa.  Chloe wasn't born yet, so she's not apart of this story.  Sorry, Chloe!

You can read about her here, though, if you'd like.

That's my uncle Kevin on the right

So there we all were.  Evening had fallen and we found ourselves fast asleep.  The night was young and so was I.  And apparently, I wasn't ready for bed just yet.  My father happened to wake up, though, as stood to my feet atop the bed.  Then, before his very eyes - and to his surprise - I dove face-first over my uncle and into the ground between the beds!  He couldn't believe it; it was such a strange thing to witness.  But even more strange was that I didn't even wake up!!  He simply picked me up, put me back in bed, and I went on sleeping.

Crazy, right??

When I awoke the next morning, it felt like I had been in a fight.  There was blood on my lip, a scrap on my cheek, and bruising near my eye.  It was a rough night's sleep, to say the least!  But looking on the bright side, I still had a working neck... so that was good.  And better yet, I had a great story to tell!

But the craziness certainly didn't end there...

Sleepwalking Adventure #2>

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Once Upon A Time

Why wouldn't your eight-year-old self time travel here to give you a hand?  You're obviously in trouble.  He could straighten you out!

From The Movie, The Kid

We all grow up, but not always in the ways we should.

Many of us take pride in the fact that we have become independent; there is assurance in knowing that we can do things on our own; we glory in our abilities to be logical and realistic.  Having entered the realm of the giants, we reward ourselves by securing a place in their world.  It was a long road getting here and we never want to go back to the way things were.  And who would?  We now stand toe-to-toe with those who have it all figured out.

We'll never again sit at the children's table.

Upon venturing forth, little by little, we build our lives, many of us unsure as to what we're building or if it'll even go on standing.  But we build anyway and then we build some more.  And when uncertainty inevitably creeps in like it does, we begin to doubt our place in this new world.  Questions about life and purpose begin to surface.

"How did I get here?" we asked ourselves. "Is this really what I want?"

We realize that what we'd given ourselves to wasn't of our own creativity or concern.  We had simply examined the patterns of those around us and followed suit.  But our reasons for doing so are hazy.  Our why is unclear.  What is clear, however, is that most everything we had built so far - our life in this new land - was devoid of passion or imagination or intrigue.

We just did it; we got the job done.

We labored not through the lens of a child but something else, entirely.  And thus, we proceeded forth with great caution, never traversing too far beyond the residents of reason and sensibility (the wisest in the land).  For if we did, and if we failed in our attempts, well, we'd be mocked or devalued in some way by the giants.  Or worse, we may be removed altogether from the ever-so-desired-kingdom, never to be taken seriously again.  And so we stayed close to home and continued on like all the others.

And just like that, we took yet another step away from the children we once were.

I'm speaking of that little boy or girl who once imagined and dreamed and believed in things that were not.  The one who was unguarded and free, innocent and curious.  The child who dared greatly and fought dragons and knew that love was true.  The darling who warmed hearts with a smile.  The explorer who discovered new things.

That small, little heart which overflowed with forgiveness and excitement and wonder... 

... the child who still there now, somewhere inside of you.

I fear that for many of us, we've succumb to the temptation to no longer be child-like in our interactions with the world.  We each have our reasons for doing so and some of us can recount the moments that led us here...

* At work, only the strong survive and so I became strong *
* My quirks made me look weird and so I turned 'em down a notch (or three) *
* I used to laugh a lot more, but it seemed to annoy people *

* I knew my heart would never be the same after the way he ended the relationship *
* When my father made fun of the way I danced, I wondered what was wrong with me *
* After she'd broken my confidence, it became difficult to trust people like that again *

What are your defining moments & how have they shaped you?

* Fill In The Blank: __________________ *

At one time or another, we've all found ourselves scrambling to survive in this world.  And the further we journeyed, the more guarded we became.  The land was foreign and the dangers were real.  But we pressed on.  We adapted.  We got the job done.  And somewhere in haziness of it all, and sometimes without our knowing, something special was lost.

And it was valuable.

Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again

C. S. Lewis
* * *

Note From The Author

Thank you for reading this post!  One way that I try to remain child-like in my interactions with the world is through music.  I compose songs and use my imagination to release something unique into each of them.  A song entitled "Wonderment" is the closest I've come to capturing what I feel the mind of a happy child might sound like.  You can have a listen here if you'd like.  Enjoy!

For more like this post, here are some other great resources:

The Power Of Vulnerability
Scary Close

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