Can't read the time

[Kim Wiltshire]

I am a very poor sleeper and when I do sleep it feels like I haven't at all. Not sure this is 100% ADD, but it is a me thing to do. This happened about 18 years ago long before i knew I was ADD. My best friend and I were staying in this flea bitten motel in San Fransisco. I was taking one of those weekend accreditation classes where if you are 5 sec. late they will not grant you your certificate. Anal right? As you know I am always late. I am also forgetful and left my alarm clock at home, thus sleep was me tossing and turning under tattered, see through sheets alternated with reaching for my watch hoping that I would not accidently sleep past 8am.  So on the Saturday we went out for a few drinks came home early and crashed out. Or I crashed out my best friend apparently did not. 

Now just outside our room was a floursecent tube lighting the outer walkway, that shined through the cracks of the curtains. A light one could easily mistake for the morning sun when the party goers arrive back to the hotel, loud and bleering after last call has come and went, right? At least that is what my sleep soaked brain thought. I peered at my watch in the dark and realized it was time to get up, and since I was going to be the one stuck in a classroom all day doing team building exercises with strangers, while my friend was going to be touristing all day I made it the rule that I get to shower last aka 5 more minutes mom. 

ME: Regina it's 8 am.  It's time to get up, you go first. 

Regina: No it's not. I haven't even fallen asleep yet, it's not 8 am. 

ME: Yes, it is I looked at the clock come on we still have to check out. 

Regina: No it's &/%%&¤%& not. 

ME: Yes, it /&/(& is. 

Regina: Fine, but you're a B/(&/(%8. 

She had never alled me such  nme before so it did cross my mind I was being a bit unfair, but 5 more mintues mom was far more enticing at that moment. Off she went to take a shower in the bathroom we found covered in curlies and other some such when we checked in, keeping us on our tippy toes for the duration of our stay. Don't even think of asking what other disgusting we found in that place. Right well, she comes out of the bathroom shivering and flips on the light.

Regina: I KNEW IT WASN'T 8 am! It's )(/#¤()#/¤ 3 am. 

I roll over look at the watch and realize I had been looking at it upside down and per usual the 8 must have been a 3 backwards, upside down and inthe general location. Back into bed she crawled wet and angrier than a hornets nest under attack. 

I on the other hand was laughing myself to tears as I tried to say sorry with all sincerity while simulatneoiusly trying piece together the chain events that led to my friend standing in a puddle at 3am cursing at me albeit with real justification.

Here is how it broke down.

The passersby woke me up and I mistook them for the early risers also ready to check out of this little slice of heaven never ever to return. I confirmed this theory with the flourscent light I romatically turned into sunrise over the bay, followed by looking at the clock upside down. Yeap it must be 8am.

I don't know why I found it so funny, but to this day I laugh at this whole chain of events. And believe it or not she remained my closest friend until she passed away far too early. Not sure I would have been as forgiving. If nothing else I am an adventure to be around. Who knows what will happen next, for what reason or how it will end. 

I made it to class and got my useless certificate that I have neve ever used.