Brahm's Lullaby

"Lullaby and goodnight with roses bedight, with lilies bedecked is baby's sweet bed. Lay thee down now and rest; may thy slumber be blessed. Lay thee down now and rest; may thy slumber be blessed." I don't know if those are truly the words, but those are the words I learned, and they're beautiful. I don't know if most adults have a "favorite lullaby" but this is mine and has been since I was a little girl. I'm not sure when I received the stuffed panda that played this song (just the instrumentals) -- it was a gift from my grandmother on my father's side -- but I had it as far back as I can remember. It was one of my favorite toys, and the song makes me happy at least in part because it makes me think of the bear.

At our local hospital, this song plays over the PA system whenever a baby is born in the maternity ward. I've never known any other hospital to have such a tradition, and I think it's very sweet. When I have been in that hospital as a patient and as a volunteer, it's brought a smile to me and to many others. I've seen people -- janitors, doctors, nurses, patients -- stop what they're doing for a moment to listen and take just a second to reflect on the new life just down the hall.

Today I'm thinking of lullabies because I've been so sleepy for the past few days! I've been busy as well, at least in the early part of the day, so I guess I've been wearing myself out. However, I've had the fleeting thought on more than one occasion that I caught something more serious than food poisoning while visiting Mexico. Three days this week, I've taken an afternoon nap, something that's unusual for me. Whatever's going on, I'll find out if it's something more serious than exhaustion later this month when I go in for my yearly physical. In the meantime, I'll keep taking my vitamins and probiotics, and work on warding off any further illness. I will rest whenever I get tired and as I fall asleep, whether at night or in the daytime, the sweet lullaby will be the last thing I think of before drifting off.