38 Hours

In seventh grade, I stayed awake for a solid straight 35 hours. Never beyond my wildest dreams did I think I’d be able to stay awake for so long without sleep. I proudly informed my younger brother of my accomplishment, who was as awed as I was.

In high school, my brother stayed awake for a solid straight 36 hours, thus beating my “record.” He informed me that once he made it to the 35 hour mark he thought about sleeping and tying my “record,” but he decided he wanted to beat me. He only stayed awake that extra hour so he could brag about his 36 hours over my 35.

Well, his little feat ends today, because this weekend I stayed awake for a solid straight 38 hours. And you know damn well that I got through those last two hours on sheer determination to beat my brother’s count of 36 by not just one, but two hours!

Don’t be so surprised by my insistence on staying awake when I could be doing far more productive things, like studying or homework or housecleaning or planning an upcoming adventure. After all, what big sister can afford to let her little brother best her in a situation like this?!

Cross-posted from breakthesky.net. Please leave any comments there.