Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Power Naps Don't Fix Stupid

President Kimball had a special talent. He could take a 30 minute power nap at any time and be completely refreshed. For a busy man that can be a blessing. For a stupid man, it can be...well you decide.

Kathie has always been equally impressed and annoyed that I can fall sleep anywhere, at any time, in an instant. During the years that I was travelling to Salt Lake City regularly on business, I discovered that I had President Kimball's gift. It was great. If I felt drowsy while driving, I could pull off the road into a service station, lay the seat back, check my watch and mentally plan a 30 minute nap. Almost invariably I would wake in 30 minutes and be on my way...no worries.

Recently I was working in the yard, felt tired and told Kathie I was going to take a 30 minute nap in the basement. I checked my watch, lay my head on the cushion and was gone. Then the doorbell rang. Kathie answered it. I looked at my watch and was amazed that I had been asleep for an hour. So I went back to yard work.

Later that evening I said: "I don't understand it...I slept for an hour this afternoon and I feel tired." Kathie laughed out loud. "I wondered what was going on when I heard the lawn mower start up. You are a victim of your own annoying talent. You didn't sleep for an hour. It could not have been more than two minutes. You apparently did your instant sleep trick...then the doorbell rang. You only thought you had been asleep for an hour. When you looked at your watch the hands had hardly moved."

So the lesson is this...if you are stupid like me...Power Naps don't fix Stupid.