Magic Sleep Dust

When there's stuff that you don't know is real or not, I guess we each apply what we know from our observations (including what we have observed in some fashion from others) against our belief systems, or what seems to make sense with our concept of what is plausible in our reality. On this basis, I'm kinda thinking that there may well be such a thing as magic sleep dust.

Ok, it doesn't have to be an actual dust, but just something that travels through the air like dust does. It could really be any type of energy or signal, from radio frequency to telepathy, I don't know and that's not the point I'm trying to make. What it really is is for scientists to explain but how it affects the world, well, I figure anyone can have a shot at that one.

It all starts with the yawn - or 'the yawning game' as my mother used to call it. I'm sure you've all noticed it when someone else yawns and you just can't help but yawn yourself, even if you're not tired at all. Sometimes you can conceal it by clamping your jaw shut but your eyes will still try to water as you force them open against their desire to squint shut and your ears and the back of your throat will most likely do that zoning out thing that happens in a full on yawn. Hey, I'm doing it now just thinking about it.


Another example is a little more scary. It's when your driving and you have other people in the car and they fall asleep. Even if your not tired you seem to find yourself starting to exhibit tired signs - yawning, restlessness and the increased likelihood of micro-sleeps (yep, I'm a bit of a Dr K fan).

But, in all this, the thing that I find the most convincing of the existence of magic sleep dust is the child care centre. For anyone else who has spent so much time trying to get their own kiddie winks off to sleep only to be told that they sleep really well in child care centres, I'm sure this one will resonate with you, too. I mean, how else can you explain how a whole bunch of kids aged six weeks to five years whose focus at any other time of the day is to play, play, play, will all of a sudden, on mass, lay down and in a relatively short amount of time find themselves off in the land of nod? I'm telling you, it has to be proof of magic sleep dust and if that doesn't convince you then I don't know what will.


And, how good would it be if you could bottle this stuff? You'd be richer than Bill Gates and twice as popular (ok, that second part is not such an accomplishment, but you know what I mean).

But, it seems that magic sleep dust is some intangible, the understanding of which is locked away in some part of the 90% of our brains that we don't use (and, before you click the comment button in response to this, yes, I know it is not true that human beings only use 10% of our brains). The point is, we don't know how lots of stuff works but we can still observe its affects and know it to exist. I think magic sleep dust falls into this category. One day we may understand it better but for now, particularly at this time of night, I simply think that I'd just better go and get me some of that stuff.


Good night, everyone. I'll leave you with this to help you all on your way:

Train whistle blowin', makes a sleepy noise
Underneath their blankets go all the girls and boys
Rockin', Rollin', Ridin', out along the bay
All bound for Morningtown, many miles a-way

Driver at the engine, Fireman rings the bell
Sandman swings the lantern to say that all is well
Rockin', Rollin', Ridin', out along the bay
All bound for Morningtown, many miles a-way

Maybe it is raining where our train will ride
All the little trave'lers are warm and snug in-side
Rockin', Rollin', Ridin', out along the bay
All bound for Morningtown, many miles a-way

Somewhere there is sunshine, somewhere there is day
Somewhere there is Morningtown, many miles a-way
Rockin', Rollin', Ridin', out along the bay
All bound for Morningtown, many miles a-way

All bound for Morningtown, many miles a-way

Words and Music by Malvina Reynolds
Performed by The Seekers (1966)