The prospect of deep sleep was ruined forever for me when I became a mother 21 years ago.  When the kids were babies, I slept with one ear open for their cries and I’ve have never really recovered.   So when Hoyt asked if I was looking forward to having Tommy home from college for Thanksgiving, I said, “Yes, but…”.  You see, in the animal world, Tommy would be described as “nocturnal”.  He does his best socializing beginning sometime after 11:00pm, rarely falling into bed before 3:00am and often calling it a night when it is, in fact, morning.    “But he’s all grown up,” says Hoyt, “just don’t worry about it.”   The thing is,  I can’t help it.  And although I’m no where near as worried as I used to be when he was in high school, I still toss and turn and watch the clock until I hear the creak of the front door and his sweet but ineffectual attempt to walk up the stairs quietly. But you know what- it’s ok,  because there may come a day when he’ll find any excuse not to come home for the holidays at all and then I’ll be too sad to sleep!