In the middle of the night, the dog wanted to go outside. I pulled the blankets around me more tightly, hoping it was just deer or perhaps a bobcat passing through and he would settle back down shortly. In that half-awake stake, my mind wandered from some dream to a really important Lenten revelation, or so it seemed at the time.

The dog did not settle down, so I took him outside on the leash briefly. He tried to find a place in the deep snow where he could relieve himself, walking in short circles. Finally, he was ready and came back inside. I headed back to bed hoping now I could get a little sleep, but the dog wanted more outside time.

Eventually, I let him outside again and when he came back inside and I returned, again, to my bed, sleep came quickly. Yet with the morning light, that dream and Lenten revelation were gone from my memory. Perhaps they will come back. Perhaps I carry them in my subconscious thoughts right now.

I went to an Ash Wednesday service on the way home. I’ve pondered anew what Lenten disciplines I might adopt, but now the hour is late after a long day, so I’ll head off to bed, and hopefully get a better night sleep.

Then, tomorrow, I can write of state politics, the lunar New Year, Lenten disciplines, perhaps poetry, technology, or some sort of post structuralist thought, but now, I shall sleep.