Getting Up In The Morning

[poliphilo]

This is the second morning in a row I've been woken by Samina telling her kids to get out of bed. Yesterday it happened at 7.20. I know it was 7.20 because she said so- and that they needed to be downstairs eating their breakfast in five minutes. Both times I've rolled over and gone back to sleep. This morning it was nearly nine before I woke again- which is much later than normal. I always feel guilty about getting up late. I suppose because it was dinged into me as a kid that early rising is virtuous. 

Early to bed and early to rise
Makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.

I hate to be bounced out of bed. I like to wake slowly, rising gradually through the levels. I detest alarm clocks. If I have an alarm clock set I keep waking at intervals through the night in an attempt to forestall the damn thing. If I am roused suddenly- by the postman, say, making an early morning delivery- it takes me hours to adjust to the change in consciousness.