By Mark McNease

I know this issue is common in older adults because I am one, and because most of the people in life are, too.

It’s not uncommon these days for me to wake up at 3:00 a.m. It seems to have been a slow progression over the last few years of waking up earlier and earlier. And I’ve never been sure if insomnia is what I actually have. I used to think it meant the inability to fall asleep, something my mother dealt with for much of her adult life. She would stay up late into the night and eventually go to bed long after the rest of us were deep in slumber. That’s what I always thought insomnia was.

Now I know there are several forms of this condition. I’ve never had any trouble falling asleep. My problem is that I will wake up after three or four and be completely unable to go back to sleep. I end up getting out of bed and going into the living room, sometimes lying on the couch where I’m able to doze off again, but many other times simply staying up for the rest of the night until the sun rises and it’s socially acceptable for me to be active. What I’m never able to do is to remain in bed. I describe the feeling as that of being a turtle on its back. I’m not able to simply lie there staring at the ceiling or the wall. I have to get up and move.

Let’s take a look at this thing called insomnia and its various causes, impacts and solutions. Happy sleeping!

About Insomnia

Insomnia, characterized by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or experiencing restful sleep, is a common issue among older adults. As we age, changes in sleep patterns and health can significantly affect sleep quality, impacting overall well-being.

We went to Philly Pride on Sunday. I haven’t been to a big city Pride event in years (Lambertville and New Hope don’t count), and I wanted to see one before they’re banned. Just kidding … not really.

We’re under continuous assault by the cross-wearing Christian Nationalists and their army of the half-dead. They continue to obsess over trangender people they’ve never met, but who they’re certain are coming for their children and their Bibles. They have always hated how expressive queer people are, and how unashamed of being ourselves we’ve somehow managed to become despite centuries (yes, centuries) of dehuminzation, criminalization and contempt. We think for ourselves, we celebrate ourselves, some of us wear nipple rings and nose rings and wedding rings, and they hate it. Their definition of freedom is the freedom to call use freaks, and to deny us services from room rentals to health care. They fantasize a god who demands whatever rules they imagine themselves bound by, and they want the rest us falling in line. So how about we fall in line dancing instead. Enjoy this video from Philly Pride, grab the nearest rainbow flag and fly it high with a twirl and a wink. Then do it again.

Six friends in Philly

Friends Gerry and Sean from NYC staying for a few days, and our neighbors Phil and Jim (together 50 years!) on a train trip to the City of Otherly Love.