Sleep Patterns and Changes by Era.

 Sleep Patterns and Changes by Era.

 

Have you ever started reading something of interest and got totally off the subject into something that was even more interesting? Well, that happened today. In fact, can’t even remember the original subject of interest, but will tell you that the discovery that humans in history used to sleep in two increments is just amazing. Even in ancient history—as in Roman days and before—the sleep patterns were in two cycles. That was pretty amazing to me. The man who was researching this dual pattern originally found records of criminal activity during one of the two sleeps. It seems that criminals took advantage of the pattern to avoid discovery while they stole livestock and other things. But even before the Middle Ages, society expected two cycles of sleep to be attended by those who were in higher society. Not too sure about the slaves and workers, but they were probably just as prone to that cycle as everyone else. And the sleeping arrangements were hilarious—a large platform held family in order of age—girls on the side of the mother and boys on the side of the father arranged according to age. And even strangers taken in for the night were allowed to sleep with the family. Now bedding could be anything from the ground, with or without a blanket, and covered over the foundation by some type of vegetation or hay—along with whatever bugs and stuff that might be down there—or just a platform with the same type of bedding. The platform might keep the moisture off the bedding, too.

 

The researcher also expected that those who slept in two different cycles were more likely to remember their dreams since they did not sleep as long as we tend to do today. They were also less likely to be hungry when they slept in two cycles as long as they ate a meal in one cycle. Hmm. And guess what made the drastic change in our sleep cycles—the Industrial Revolution when folks had to work for a set number of hours during the day. Clocks were also more common by then, as well as alarms or bells to tell the time of day.

 

Sitting here wondering what it would take to change back to those cycles when it occurred to me that retirement pretty well does that. This stupid pandemic also has changed things so that folks who work at home—online or otherwise—can sleep at different hours and not even lose an hour of work in a week. Who knows? Maybe this much unsettled social life can make a deep difference in our lives that won’t really hurt us. Many an older person complains about not being able to sleep after a few short cat naps. But maybe those catnaps are equivalent to the cycle they needed in the first place.

 

Reading online is always bringing some strange facts to the forefront. It can be fun and enlightening at the same time. But maybe the neatest things are the medical discoveries or experiments. For instance, some scientist believe that they have found a way to cause the spinal cord to produce new neurons that will make nerves to rejoin a severed spinal cord. To me, that sounds like a wonderful possibility! SO many people have suffered spinal cord injuries in one or more areas of the spine. To give them back their mobility would be a miracle.

 

Our skies look as if they were rinsed in dirty water, and the temps are to be 27 tonight with a high of 47 tomorrow. Oh! Joy. Twenty degrees for Wednesday night with a high of 34 on Thursday and then 16 degrees on Thursday night with a high of 44 on Friday. Every time it changes from the 60s to the teens, it hurts a body part or my attitude. Or both. Now if those two sleep cycles could be changed around until spring—just hibernate through this winter, ya know! You have undoubtedly heard the joke about the woman who wanted to be reincarnated as a bear. Sleep through the winter, having her cubs while she is sleeping, and wake up hungry and able to eat all she wanted while wearing her very own fur coat. And no one would be critical if she was roly poly fat!

 

Thompson did not want to eat again today, but he was more than willing to share the chicken pieces from my taco salad. The beans and rice were great, too, but he did not get any of that or the avocado or sour cream.

 

Speaking of avocados: Kate Ellen should start growing avocados on her little farm in Kenya. Apparently, those are the high dollar crops wherever they are grown, but especially in Kenya. Each one is worth about seventeen cents in U.S. dollars—which translates to a small fortune for the number a tree might produce. Of course, one has to guard the tree to keep the thieves away from them. Nevermind, Kate does not need any further problems with thieves. It is about all she can do to rescue starving pigs and dogs—not to mention children.

 

The world is becoming stranger every day, but it is definitely interesting. May God bless our nation and families. May we realize the need for gratitude to Him and to those around us.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved this day and for many more.