The Witching Hour

[glynndah]

They say midnight's the witching hour, but they're wrong. Oh, how they're wrong! At midnight, there's still a chance someone else will be awake, perhaps a friend one can phone. One can look out the window and see lights in the neighbors' windows. The online world still has people posting; the television world still has shows one recognizes and can get caught up in. One can pick up that book and step into a better world, or perhaps a world that makes one feel one's own world isn't really that bad. And if all that fails, there's still enough time before morning to stumble into the bathroom and find a pharmaceutical solution.

No, the real witching hour is about four in the morning. It's much, much too late to phone anyone unless the emergency room or bail money is involved. The world outside the window is dark, as dark as one's mood. The posting in the online world slows to a trickle; those television friends are much more interested in one's credit card information than in presenting a drama. That book's still an option, of course, but reading some times takes more effort than one wants to exert at such a time. Any chance of using a pharmaceutical option means one will be groggy most of the following day.

So, one is left with one's thoughts: reliving moments in time, trying to figure out how or when things went askew; pondering if life will ever be so free and easy again. Thinking about doing something one has promised to never, ever, ever do. Wondering if a drink or two or even a whole bottle will make one feel better; if this pill or that pill will help; wondering what this pill AND that pill will do...

Fortunately, four in the morning is close enough to dawn that one only has to get through a few hours before daybreak comes and brightens the world once again. Oh, but those few hours seem to last an eternity.

 

[lovecraft68]

When I had to be in work for 6am for a few years I used to go jogging at 4am

You really are pretty much all alone in the world at that time. Even the neighborhood dogs are sleeping

 

[sr71plt]

4 am sounds right to me.

 

[Handley_Page]

They say midnight's the witching hour, but they're wrong.

No, the real witching hour is about four in the morning. It's much, much too late to phone anyone unless the emergency room or bail money is involved. The world outside the window is dark, as dark as one's mood. The posting in the online world slows to a trickle; those television friends are much more interested in one's credit card information than in presenting a drama. That book's still an option, of course, but reading some times takes more effort than one wants to exert at such a time. Any chance of using a pharmaceutical option means one will be groggy most of the following day.

Wondering if a drink or two or even a whole bottle will make one feel better; if this pill or that pill will help; wondering what this pill AND that pill will do...

Oh, but those few hours seem to last an eternity.

Don't they just.
I was pondering about quoting you a record I find appropriate with that time: July London: "Black Coffee" and there would have been a smile with it; maybe even a wink.

Then I thought that your stream of feeling might be such that the words of that famous song strike a few too many chords. Been there, done that; the T-shirt's now a cloth for cleaning the car.

Too tired and confused to write, the light's all wrong and the eyes hurt, the coffee tastes crap and all is not right with the world of 4 am, unless you are on duty at some military base, and even then it's debatable.

So whatever it is, Glynndah, take heart: Dawn is fewer hours away that the black night's start.

 

[TxRad]

I'm wondering why you are a wake at 4 AM? Unless sex is involved, of course. And if it's not involved, why not?

 

[glynndah]

When I had to be in work for 6am for a few years I used to go jogging at 4am

You really are pretty much all alone in the world at that time. Even the neighborhood dogs are sleeping

And the coyotes are yipping as they tear through the meadow, a very eerie sound.

4 am sounds right to me.

"Right" isn't exactly the word I'd use.

Don't they just.
I was pondering about quoting you a record I find appropriate with that time: July London: "Black Coffee" and there would have been a smile with it; maybe even a wink.

Then I thought that your stream of feeling might be such that the words of that famous song strike a few too many chords. Been there, done that; the T-shirt's now a cloth for cleaning the car.

Too tired and confused to write, the light's all wrong and the eyes hurt, the coffee tastes crap and all is not right with the world of 4 am, unless you are on duty at some military base, and even then it's debatable.

So whatever it is, Glynndah, take heart: Dawn is fewer hours away that the black night's start.

There are times when being awake at that time is a good thing; last night wasn't one of them.

I'm wondering why you are a wake at 4 AM? Unless sex is involved, of course. And if it's not involved, why not?

Being awake then wasn't my idea of a good time. Sex? It's the universal panacea, isn't it? However, sometimes that falls under the "doing something one has promised to never, ever, ever do".

 

[damppanties]

Just another point of view

If the only place where you can go at four in the morning is inward, why not create a thing of beauty from all that you hold within you?

Four in the morning is a blessing for people like me who love to create in the smooth darkness, when the world has gone to sleep and there's endless peace and magic to be found in the cool air of the night. There's a freshness to 4 a.m. that can never be found at any other time. The sounds, smells and fatigue of the day have all been put to rest and there's the silvery scent of a brand new day in the air.

The night has more often than not passed in a coffee-fueled writing trance that's just coming into its best few minutes at four in the morning. It's that time when the brain is at its sharpest, before a new dawn can dull it into a sleepy giddiness born of working throughout the night. It's the harsh light of the day that robs me of my senses.

Wishing you some of the magical four in the mornings, good witch.

 

[glynndah]

If the only place where you can go at four in the morning is inward, why not create a thing of beauty from all that you hold within you?

Four in the morning is a blessing for people like me who love to create in the smooth darkness, when the world has gone to sleep and there's endless peace and magic to be found in the cool air of the night. There's a freshness to 4 a.m. that can never be found at any other time. The sounds, smells and fatigue of the day have all been put to rest and there's the silvery scent of a brand new day in the air.

The night has more often than not passed in a coffee-fueled writing trance that's just coming into its best few minutes at four in the morning. It's that time when the brain is at its sharpest, before a new dawn can dull it into a sleepy giddiness born of working throughout the night. It's the harsh light of the day that robs me of my senses.

Wishing you some of the magical four in the mornings, good witch.

Being awake voluntarily at that time in the morning can be a wonderful thing. When it's involuntary and one just craves sleep and oblivion, there's no bleaker time.

 

[Safe_Bet]

Insomnia and depression are dialectically related - both influence each other.

~Matthew J. Edlund, M.D. in his book, "The Power of Rest"

Just say'in. (and it's VERY true for me)

 

[glynndah]

Just say'in. (and it's VERY true for me)

And me as well.

 

[sr71plt]

Well, I'm not sure what you're after here, Glynndah. I merely agreed that I would have responded that 4 am was the witching hour too. I work until after 3, and about 5 the world appears to be waking up. Your initial post seemed to cast it as some sort of magical time (as in witching). Later you call it a bleak time. Just don't know where you were going with this.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I write at 4am or read. I generally arise at 4am anyway. Its the perfect time for hot coffee and thinking.

 

[slyc_willie]

My neighborhood is genuinely quiet by one or two in the morning. I'd say half of my neighbors are military, which means they'll all be up by six so they go to bed early, and the rest are typical central Texas conservative folk who follow the "early to bed, early to rise" philosophy.

I love stepping outside at around 2 am, which is the time I typically turn in for the night. Not even the wind is moving at that time on most nights. It's cool, calm, dark and comforting for me, the only time out of the 24-hour cycle during which I don't have to worry about bad drivers, loud music, yelping dogs or screaming kids.

So my witching hour starts a bit earlier than yours, Glynndah, and I love it.

 

[Handley_Page]

My neighborhood is genuinely quiet by one or two in the morning. I'd say half of my neighbors are military, which means they'll all be up by six so they go to bed early, and the rest are typical central Texas conservative folk who follow the "early to bed, early to rise" philosophy.

I love stepping outside at around 2 am, which is the time I typically turn in for the night. Not even the wind is moving at that time on most nights. It's cool, calm, dark and comforting for me, the only time out of the 24-hour cycle during which I don't have to worry about bad drivers, loud music, yelping dogs or screaming kids.

So my witching hour starts a bit earlier than yours, Glynndah, and I love it.

At this time of year, 4am is both dark & cold. No fun, I promise

 

[TE999]

Denny's is open 24/7 if you get hungry. Their Grand Slam Breakfast is tasty, but don't order the coffee. I think it's brewed using dirty sweatsocks for a filter.

I've been up that early to go fishing since lots of fish feed at dawn, especially the fresh water ones like Snook.

 

[sr71plt]

In any event, it's spring ahead in fifteen more minutes, so tomorrow 4 am is going to come at 3 here.

 

[Noor]

It's the witching hour my favorite good witch but I hope you are fast asleep dreaming wondrous dreams of new beginnings.

 

[NaokoSmith]

4 am when you're just finishing off some wonderful writing and thinking about cycling to the bagel bakery for a snack to celebrate is wonderful.

But I've been through some horrible 4 ams, when I had to walk in circles to make sure I made it through to 6 or 7 and some semblance of normality.

Maybe your 4 am is my wake up and make breakfast time? Dragon and I often come across people having a last nightcap when we're having our first cup of tea in Naked Party. We love to have company, and often have a good grumble in there while making Rolf and Olaf do tea and coffee for us, so don't worry about coming in grumpy.

and hope you're sleeping well now.

 

[Bramblethorn]

TNo, the real witching hour is about four in the morning. It's much, much too late to phone anyone unless the emergency room or bail money is involved.

Ever heard "Famous Blue Raincoat"? I think Leonard Cohen might agree with you.

 

[damppanties]

Being awake voluntarily at that time in the morning can be a wonderful thing. When it's involuntary and one just craves sleep and oblivion, there's no bleaker time.

True.

 

[Domesticity]

My husband can't figure out why I enjoy being up around 2-4 pm. It's about the only time I can get REAL alone time.

 

[Handley_Page]

Well, it's just after 4am here, and quite frankly it's no fun at all, although I notice a larger number on the board, but it is bloody cold.

Rest easy, Good Witch, you are among friends.

 

[damppanties]

I'm still awake at 3:27 a.m. but I should be asleep as I have a full day (9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.) tomorrow.

 

[NaokoSmith]

My husband can't figure out why I enjoy being up around 2-4 pm. It's about the only time I can get REAL alone time.

LOL, I sneak out of bed about 5.30 - 6.30 so I can go on here and have a laugh before the family get up and start moaning about their sandwiches and snack money.