Restless

One more reason I love National Public Radio.

Watch me sit in a chair at rest: Legs crossed, one ankle is in continuous motion, a foot going up down, up down.

I rock myself to sleep at night. Done it all my life, so far as I can remember. I fall asleep while still in motion. Or, if I can't do that, due to embarrassment or consideration for others (with "company" or sharing a room), I'll rhythmically twitch the big muscle in one thigh.

On any plane ride I'll take a walk - and go stand for a while in the flight-attendant's galley area. I've learned that if you offer a smile, and stay out of their way, standees are tolerated.

The past few years, I've often wakened early, like around 4:30 or 5:00 A.M. with one thought in my head: Not 'go pee' or, 'get coffee', but 'go walking.' Four, five miles dispels the tetchy feeling.

On NPR's Morning Edition of April 5 I listened as someone described restless leg syndrome.

It was a wonderful "aha!" moment. There's a name for this. Suddenly I'm not so weird. And I'm fortunate - some got it so bad as to seriously interfere with their lives.

Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation link.