Bedtime Stories for Grown Ups
April 26, 2008
I raved about the new Stephen King novel in a previous post and promised two more posts on related topics. Here’s the second of three , which I hope will give everyone time to get Duma Key: A Novel
The Magic of Storytelling
There once was a brother and sister who did everything together. They played together. They went to school together. But, the best thing the did together was have adventures.
Handsome, Miss Thang and I recited those words to start our nightly ritual of co-creating a bedtime story for many years as they were growing up.
Oh, the adventures we had with the magical rabbit who jumped down through their closet into a hollow of a tree trunk, transporting all of us to all kinds of new places with wonderful new powers. (As I recall being invisible was a big favorite.) They remember the stories fondly and so do I.
Those simple, silly stories allowed us to share our feelings, hopes and fears and connect with each other. There’s a lovely intimacy that’s born from sitting in the dark letting thoughts and feelings float overhead in the air. Storytelling is one of the oldest and most powerful forms of communication known to man. And, it’s not just for children.
Making up your own Make-Believe
Why not take co-creating to a new level? Create your own bedtime stories with your sweetie. Sometimes I can convince my honey to ’speak a story’ with me. He’s a musician- yeah vibes!- not a wordsmith so it feels awkward for him to spin a yarn. But he tries. We’ve both been surprised by where our collective imagination takes us and tells us about the other one. Honestly, I love to hear our thoughts intertwine, however, what’s more likely to happen is that he reads to me.
His deep, sonorous voice is a great source of comfort for me. It keeps my regular insomnia at bay. There’s nothing better than snuggling under the covers with my eye patch listening to his voice and making my own pictures in my head. Maybe I like it so much because it’s a form of caregiving. Whatever the reason, I highly recommend that you and your honey give it a try. I can almost guarantee a good result. (your mileage may vary)
A Word or Two about Book Selection
Difficult as it may be, try to find a book you’ll both enjoy. Also, make sure the book is not too exciting, if you know what I mean. We tried reading mysteries, which was a big mistake because I rarely wanted to stop. Not good for calming down to go to sleep.
If your goal is a bit more romantic excitement, I’ve got just the books for you. Anne Rice wrote a very sensuous series of books that turn the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale on its, well, bottom. The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty
When you’re done with these there’s bound to be sweet dreams!
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