By Madison Night
From the Madison Night Mad for Mod Mysteries
by Diane Vallere
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I haven’t had a good night’s sleep since what happened*. Every night, it’s the same. I fall asleep and relive what happened. I wake up in a cold sweat, disoriented. Rock, my Shih Tzu, seems to have recognized this new development. As soon as I wake, he wakes too. He repositions himself almost like he wants to make sure I know he’s there. Some days I get up and do chores—rearrange my closet of vintage dresses by color or era, dust my collection of Tiki mugs, or Murphy Oil the Danish modern furniture in my living room. Some days I eventually fall back asleep.
The sleeping pills help. But the idea of them scares me. Two years ago I injured my knee in a skiing accident. At the top of the slope, I’d been a woman in love enjoying the company of her male companion. By the time I reached the bottom, I was in an emergency vehicle, secured to a hard flat surface, on my way to the local hospital. I woke alone and bitter from an unexpected breakup. It would have been all too easy to take the doctor-prescribed pain killers to ease both pains--emotional and physical--but that wasn’t who I was. Even though I knew the sleeping pills the doctor prescribed could help me, the fear of becoming dependent on them, or of returning to how I’d felt while lying alone in that hospital bed two years ago, was enough to keep me suffering.
When Hudson James surprised me with the news of a trip to Palm Springs, my first thought was that he was right; a change of scenery would do me good. I packed my trusty turquoise Samsonite suitcase with otherwise out-of-season vacation clothes (Palm Springs in October is well over a hundred degrees!), stocked up on doggie travel supplies for Rock, and we left.
I didn’t think about the sleeping arrangements until our flight was in the air. Now it’s the only thing on my mind.
Giveaway: Do you have advice to help Madison Night get some rest? Post it in the comments below and be entered to win a Kindle copy of PILLOW STALK, the first book in the series! (contest will run until midnight 2/6/2017. Winner will be contacted on 2/7.)
*what happened? Read WITH VICS TO GET EGGROLL to find out!
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| The Madison Night Mysteries: The lightness of Doris Day, the darkness of homicide, and a Shih Tzu named Rock. |
Posts
Oh no....have a cocktail and go to bed.
ReplyDeleteHmm, how about meditation?
ReplyDeletedebby236 at gmail dot com
Mint tea, a hot bath and a good book.
ReplyDeletekaren(dot)kenyon(at)rogers(dot)com
Aromatherapy and soothing sounds from a sound machine or app on your phone. Both help me. [email protected]
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Melissa! You're the winner! Madison Night thanks you for your suggestion. I'll email you for the delivery of your copy of PILLOW STALK!
DeleteI read. It relaxes me enough to fall asleep. [email protected]
ReplyDeleteI would fall asleep to the soap operas, so I would set my tv to shut off 45min. To 1 hour later. Usually works.
ReplyDeletedaw655(at)hotmail(dot)com
I just read a good book until I fall asleep [email protected]
ReplyDeleteI just read a good book until I fall asleep [email protected]
ReplyDeleteThe hardest thing to do is to let the past be the past. You can't change it. But what you can to is acknowledge it happened. Trauma does not just go away. You need to think it through and accept it as it is a fact of life and move on from there. And learn to relax. Let each part of the body relax. Piece by piece. In about 10 minutes you will be back to sleep. Della at deepotter (at) peoplepc ((dot) com
ReplyDeleteChamomile Tea - and some lavender spray on your pillow.
ReplyDeleteReading helps me relax and I would pray peace.
ReplyDeleteI have an assortment of herbal and homeopathic goodies to help me get to sleep. Some times they work better than others.
ReplyDeletelibbydodd at comcast dot net
Try homeopathic remedies
ReplyDeleteReading, aromatherapy, tea often help. Also talking to someone & telling them your fears.
ReplyDeleteturtle6422(at)gmail(dot)com
Soak in a warm bathtub full of fragrant bubbles and relax and read a good book!
ReplyDelete[email protected]
ReplyDeleteReading and aromatherapy. Lavender is really relaxing and meditate to clear your mind.
ReplyDeletediannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
Reading and aromatherapy. Lavender is really relaxing and meditate to clear your mind.
ReplyDeletediannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
Exercise.. . Hard. Wear the body out so that it will crash and you will sleep like a baby. I never sleep as well when I haven't gone to the gym.
ReplyDeleteA series of yoga stretches, diffuse a combination of lavender and cedar wood essential oils and a good read is a cure for restless nights. If that fails then take an Ambien. amysue511 (at) gmail (dot) com
ReplyDeleteLavender scented lotion helps me rest. Zeta(at)iwon(dot)com
ReplyDeleteAsk for 2 rooms!!!! I would love this. konecny7(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteRead till you fall asleep! Thanks for the giveaway. doward1952(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDeleteHow about Bing Crosby's advice: Count your blessings instead of sheep. [email protected]
ReplyDeleteI listen to old mystery radio shows from the 50's! Something about the staticky quality is so cozy and gets me every time.
ReplyDeletelong run in the evening. or a workout :)
ReplyDeleteem(dot)milka(at)hotmail(dot)com
If you are not going to sleep, you might just as well cuddle up with a good mystery book -- sure to keep you company while awake. If you really want to sleep, a few minutes of yoga stretching and quiet meditation usually do the trick -- clear the mind and relax the body.
ReplyDeleteIf you are not going to sleep, you might just as well cuddle up with a good mystery book -- sure to keep you company while awake. If you really want to sleep, a few minutes of yoga stretching and quiet meditation usually do the trick -- clear the mind and relax the body.
ReplyDeleteIf you are not going to sleep, you might just as well cuddle up with a good mystery book -- sure to keep you company while awake. If you really want to sleep, a few minutes of yoga stretching and quiet meditation usually do the trick -- clear the mind and relax the body.
ReplyDeleteI'm all about quiet music softly playing in the background. bobwiesmann at gmail dot com
ReplyDelete