I worked 4 years on third shift at the little run down truckstop just off the highway- that was about 3 ½ more years than I had originally planned. It was just how things went for me at that time in my life.
I was tired all the time, inside and out, body and soul. I worked the third shift, picked up my kids from my mother’s, took one to school and stayed up with the other until 10 a.m.- when he finally laid down for a nap. I was always so grateful to his little peahead because he always went down every day at the same time- and when he slept, I slept. Somehow, when he woke up 2 hours later, I woke up, too. (the ‘mommy instinct’ kicking in, I guess) Then we would pick up his brother; come home, run errands if necessary, do dinner and head to grandma’s so we could do it all over again. Sometimes we would go early and I would sleep for a couple of hours before heading to work. I was always exhausted- but doing it this was kept my kids out of daycare- which I couldn’t afford- but wouldn’t have put them in even if I could have afforded it. I wanted to be my kids’ mom. I was a tired mom- but I was THERE.
One night, it was particularly dead- and no one had shown up to work the shift but me. (surprise, surprise) This meant I had to put the grocery truck away all by myself- because second shift didn’t have enough time with THREE PEOPLE on their shift. I sat down on one of the giant totes that contained oil products and truck parts. Then I leaned back and lay down on the tote and stared at the ceiling. I rubbed my eyes.
The next thing I know, I’m snapping awake, panic stricken! I don’t know what time it is! I don’t know how long I’ve been asleep! I don’t know if anyone’s been in the store! I check the counters, the registers, the safe, the bathrooms, the showers, the trucker’s lounge… I check the coffee pots and relax- the pots were full and at exactly the same level I had made them at earlier.
I could have been asleep for 5 seconds or an hour- to this day, I have no idea.
My boss thought I was a great worker because I never stopped moving. Little did she know, I never stopped moving so I wouldn’t fall asleep!
