One of the great things about manic episodes is the endless amount of energy I have. There's no need for sleep, only things to do, places to see, and ideas to share. For those of you who haven't had the fun of experiencing this yourself, I'd have to say that it is kind of like being strapped to jet engines with unlimited fuel. Ready, set, GO!
One of the most notable things I've done while in a manic state was redecorate our second bathroom while my partner slept. You read that right. I redecorated the second bathroom overnight. While my partner slept! Now, it isn't a large bathroom, but it was in need of an overhaul. And we had finally agreed on a color and bought the paint.
Jen usually heads for bed later in the evening, 10-11 o'clock. I am usually in bed between 8-9pm. It was a Friday night and I just was not able to sleep; thoughts were running through my head of things I should do, I was restless, and tried everything that I knew to calm myself and fall asleep. All to no avail, so I got up and decided to do something. We live in a split-level and to be nice and not wake Jen I decided I would find something downstairs to do. No sense in both of us not being able to sleep.
This bathroom was all white: white walls, floor tiles, shower surround, and ceiling. It was like looking at a painting that is all white and then being told that the title is "albino cow in a snowstorm". I took off all the trim and outlet covers, sanded the walls and wiped them down, painted said walls, replaced the mirror, painted/stained the trim and outlet covers, fixed the vanity, removed & recaulked everything, put it back together again and put decor on the walls.
As I stood back to look at my handiwork I hear from upstairs, "Sherry? Sherry!?". For the record, I'm usually the first one to bed and the last one out of it on weekends. I called out that I was downstairs (still admiring my work and wondering what to tackle next) and that she should come on down.
Eyes still clouded with sleep, Jen comes down around the corner to look at me covered in paint, sitting on our step stool with tools and rags around my feet. Hey, I was excited! I had gotten a lot accomplished in those wee hours of the morning while she was sleeping and was ready to show it off.
With wide eyes, she looks at me as she realizes that I have been up all night doing Heaven-knows-what, and asks if I have been up all night what did I do. Like a proud Mama, I point to the bathroom and said, "I got it all done!" "What did you get all done? The painting?", she asks. "Nope! The whole bathroom!" Her look said it all: it was part horror, part astonishment, and relief. Her only words after looking at the bathroom...
Go to bed!
No comments:
Post a Comment