Sleep, Sirens, Ambulances, Trucks....Whatever

Okay, I'm going to be real honest. All right, I've been real honest all along, but here's the inside scoop about sleeping downtown. It stinks.

Oh, of course, I can't speak for all downtowners. Maybe they're in sleeping heaven nirvana. But for me and many of my neighbors, it stinks.

Why? Because it's NOISY. Very, very noisy. 

Indulge me a little with my sleeping back story. Before I moved downtown, I could sleep through a storm, an earthquake, the couple banging through the walls, anything, I tell you anything. 

In one of my past lives I was a travel writer - and I could even sleep standing up in a shower in China! But, here I have turned into a zombie of the night's never-ending sounds. 

This is how my typical night goes. 

I fall asleep, then I hear, let's say car alarms blasting and horns incessantly honking. I wake-up, go to the bathroom. Go back to sleep. One hour later I hear, the siren of a squad car. Or maybe a fire truck. An ambulance. Whatever. I don't know - just loud, deafening, nail-biting sounds. I go back to sleep. One hour later I hear a homeless person screaming - not every night but most. At 4 a.m. the city trucks start cleaning the street. I wake-up again. Go back to sleep. Go to the bathroom. Then at 6 a.m. or earlier the buses start barreling down the street. By 7 o'clock when I start working, I am half-asleep and restless.

I can't remember the last time I actually slept through the night. Well, I guess that is part of the problem - remembering, ANYTHING. 

Now, you're thinking, well, there must be a way. Sure, I could turn into a sleeping pill addict. Wear ear plugs. Do 1,000 push-ups before I go to bed. Yes, I guess I could. But, I hate pills, ear plugs bug me, and I'm too old for push-ups of any number.

And do you think I'm alone in this? 

I told you it's not just me - half of my neighbors look exhausted, too. Loft #318 can barely hold her dog's leash. #421 spends half the night cooking and waddles to get her morning paper (she's put on a lot of weight), and #219 keeps a coffee mug with him at all times, that's in case he's getting ready to fall over.

We're a tired bunch. But, we live in our precious lofts. Our price to pay for a little slice of paradise. Re-vitalization. Hubba-hubba. The scene. 

And ask me if I would change anything - I simply can't remember. I'm too tired to think about it.

P.S. I just spoke with my neighbor Bob - he says that after one year the noise just magically disappears and you sleep soundly through the night. Okay-dokey. He also believes that his parrots talk to him. So there you have it.

Comments

[Eric]

I am sorry to hear that! I think I'm lucky. I'm in South Park and with the concrete walls, I don't even hear the other people in the building.

[TalesofDowntown.com]

Hi Eric -

You have no idea how lucky you are! Sometimes I just stare at the walls I am so frustrated. It's funny though, because it is those same sounds during the day that I like. They keep me energized.

Thanks for your comment. Nancy

[Vicky DeCoster]

Okay, what's my excuse? I'm in Nebraska where the only thing that should be waking me up at night is NOTHING. But I'm like you ... the milk truck drives up the road behind my house at 3:00 a.m. and I'm up. The birds start singing at 5:00 a.m. and I'm up. I'm like a nocturnal animal prowling around my house every night. Just remember, we're never as alone as we think ... there's someone else out there staring out the window into the dark of night wondering when the last time was that they slept through the night. Hilarious stuff, Nancy!

[TalesofDowntown.com]

Oh Vicky, do I have empathy with you. Well, I always did anyway. If birds keep you up - you'd be bouncing off the walls here - doing a dance on the ceiling, howling to the wolves.

That said, when are you coming to visit? Nancy