I wake and look at the glowing digits on the clock. 3:19. Close enough for my 4:00 AM dose of anti-fungal medication. To avoid waking Patty, I get out of bed and walk through the dark, cold house silently -- as silently as the monks at Mepkin Abbey who, at that very moment, are making their way to the monastery church for the Psalms, readings and silence of Vigils. It's the first of their seven prayer services, the beginning of their day. Of course, they have been asleep since 8:00 PM. I went to bed much later. So, after taking the medicine, I creep back into bed and sleep.

It took me a while to get used to the schedule of taking my medication. I've been doing it for so long, now, that I can usually get back to sleep with little trouble.

I love the sleeping at this time of year. The darkness is longer and deeper. The thermostat in the house drops to 60 degrees at 10:00 PM, so we're wrapped in flannel pajamas, flannel sheets, a blanket. I think we human beings are like all mammals: we need more sleep during these weeks.