When I was younger, my sister and I lived for visits to Grandma and Grandpa's house. I can remember asking my mom and dad if we could have a sleep over at Mema and Pepa's (what I always called them) and my parents would have us call them up on the phone to ask. Of course, they always said yes and we would spend our days wearing my grandma's full petticoats and high heels, having tea parties with Mema and walking to the park with Pepa.
At night, after a long bubble bath, we would cozy up to Mema and she would tell us a story. We would drift off to sleep with her soft words still tumbling in our heads and the next thing I knew, I was being awakened in the middle of the night by Mema. "It's Tinkle Time," she would say gently and we would shuffle to the bathroom, still half asleep. Now that I am older, I know that my grandma was worried about little girls having accidents in her beds, but at the time, all I wanted to do was sleep and I am sure there were times I feel asleep in the little girls room during Tinkle Time.
My grandma's Tinkle Time phrase stuck with our family. When I was a youngster, my dad used to work a lot of hours and my sister and I would whine when he would leave for work, badgering him about when he would be back. "I'll be back around Tinkle Time," he would say. We always know what that meant. Tinkle Time happens sometime after you have gone to bed and are in a deep sleep. Sometimes it is provoked by a grown up and other times it is an act of free will.
As a married woman, I don't have anyone waking me up in the middle of the night for Tinkle Time. Although, Molly and Olivia seem to remind me when they are walking all over my midsection, pressing their paws into the bladder region. Now, getting up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night has turned into a diabolical battle. To go or not to go? . . . . That is the question.
One the one hand, y
ou know if you go, you'll feel better, be able to sleep longer and run a lower risk of a bladder infection. (Although the later reason seems very insignificant at 3 o'clock in the morning.) On the other hand, the bed is cozy and warm and you know if you get up, you'll never be able to find that comfy spot that you are in again. Can you hold it until the alarm goes off? More importantly, your bed real estate may also be in jeopardy. I have come back from the latrine to find my husband sprawled out across the whole bed. "Troy, can you move over?" I then get a mild grunt and 6 inches of mattress. These are the things you need to weigh in the middle of the night.
I have become one of those people who eventually gets up and partakes in the Tinkle Time ritual. I figure it is a great opportunity to enjoy the shell night-light I bought in Hawaii on our honeymoon, but mostly it's because I hate to be uncomfortable like that. Yet, I still have the internal battle. I am convinced that many people are like me in that sense. I would be willing to bet that those who are regular attenders of Tinkle Time spend more brain power wondering which is the better option than they do on things like what to make for dinner.
I know there are people out there who just ignore the call of nature or perhaps you have an extra large bladder, and for that I am jealous. However, for those of you who fight the mental battle, you are in good company. If it makes you feel better I am probably up at the same time you are . . . Tinkle Time.
A big whoop-whoop goes to Kim Retts who originally had this brilliant idea and suggested it for a blog posting.
You know what's awesome about summer? The food. Yeah, that's right . . . the food. I know that summer contains a plethora of fantabulous things, but the food (fruits and veggies to be specific) is really spectacular.
