Clock-Watching

We are told we all have within us a "sidereal clock" and usually the people who tell us that say we should live by it. What they mean is that we should wake sometime near daybreak and go to bed sometime near nightfall. And that so doing is good for us. Really good for us. Countless studies. Past, present and future. Many on-going.

The most famous short poem supporting this argument is, of course,  by Dr. Benjamin Franklin:

Early to bed and early to rise

Makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.

The most famous use of the concept as a political slogan belongs to Ronald  Reagan, whose "It's Morning in America"  will no doubt keep stone-cutters busy for the rest of this century.

In fact, if you look up sidereal (yes, I looked it up) it really is a sort of time-keeping devise based on the stars. But, like your grandmother or a farmer you knew growing up or Doctor Somebody Else, guest on The Dr. Somebody Show, I too believe in the sidereal clock -- well, at least the clock part.

That is to say, I know there are morning people. However, I also know the early to rise business  can be carried too far. For instance, I know that getting up to do the TODAY show has caused ringing in the ears among NBC employees that lasted till they were reassigned.

But I also know that many people have slept late and become even wealthier than the wage slaves who follow Franklin's schedule -- stage stars, concert pianists and rock stars are examples.

I also recently discovered what, for lack of a better term, I can only call a sidereal calendar, those days of the year during which, seemingly inexplicably, you find yourself feeling very sad or very happy, and there is no reason for it till you realize that something very important happened on this date last year or five years ago or sometime in your past. It makes you know why people celebrate anniversaries, I think.

Three related matters: (1) I don't believe history records Benjamin Franklin as much of an early-riser himself and he seemed to do all right. And, (2) if getting up early is so good for you, why do I always feel better and more relaxed when I wake up after sleeping late? And (3) and finally, why do those morning people have to be so cheerful about everything -- and so damn loud? It cuts into my sleep.