The Falling Asleep Nod

Oh how I love this!

You know the one.

When someone (or you) is falling asleep. Their neck gets limp looking and their head begins to sort of sag listlessly. You’re waiting for it to come.

Finally, we get the nod.

Their head falls forward in a glorious arc and just as it seems like they’re about to chin themselves in the chest, they wake up, open their eyes and bring their head upright dramatically. The temporary embarrassment of this soon passes as their eyes start drooping once more and off they trot into the land of nod once again.

I fucking love seeing this happen.

What’s also good is when we get the variations of the nod, such as the sideways lean into the person beside them. This is particularly funny if the person beside the sleeper is a stranger.

The other day I was coming home on the bus at rush hour, everyone tired after a long day at work or college. I sat at the back, meaning I would have people beside me and in front of me, facing me. The guy in front of me was first to go. I saw the eyes close serenely and soon he was doing the aul’ sleeping nod every few minutes. Jolting back awake every time it seemed he was about to fall properly asleep.

I was pleased to see he didn’t give a bollocks, and was nodding off every so often without an ounce of shame or embarrassment. He was sitting beside this glamourous looking Eastern European girl, who was not a bit impressed when he very nearly fell asleep on her shoulder.

Then the guy beside me started to go. I was sitting there, surrounded by these nodding dogs, wondering who’d be next to go.

It really helped pass the time.

I really wish I could sleep on public transport, it’d be so feckin’ handy! No matter how little sleep I’ve had, I always find it difficult to sleep when other people are around.

Some friends of mine are not so troubled, and have told me stories of them falling asleep on the bus, and being awoken by what can only be described as their own sleepy drool trail. Now that’s what I wanna see!

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