Thanks to growing up on the wisdom embodied in Bugs Bunny cartoons, when I cannot sleep I often resort to counting sheep.
I’ll picture a line of sheep backed up for miles, or acres, I suppose. As the next in line approaches the fence he or she gets a running start and usually makes it over the barrier. Sometimes, though, a sheep will stumble or catch a hoof on the top rail, and soon all the other sheep are laughing and pointing and offering advice, often saying, “Baa! Baa!” Which loosely translates to “Ewe should have stopped and asked directions!” Even though the sheep wasn’t lost, just clumsy. Sheep aren’t the smartest animals in the barnyard, after all.
Instead of counting leaping sheep I’m now offering them lessons in compassion. I relate the story of the Good Samaritan, but my words fall on deaf ears and my frustration grows and now I’m more wide awake than when I started the process.
Tonight, though, I had an epiphany—what if the sheep aren’t in a single file line? What if they aren’t jumping a fence? What if they’re all just chomping on grass, scattered about the countryside like so many cotton balls on a blanket? This scenario has possibilities! Now, if I could convince them to stay in one place this might just work.
“Hey, you, get back here! The fence is off limits!” Oh well, it was worth a try. Maybe I should count cotton balls instead.
Peace, people!
Praying for Eyebrowz 
What a lovely thought ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. The sheep are getting adventurous there. xxxxxxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Frisky little guys.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah. Wait till they get to the cartwheel stage. That when you’d happily have your legs broken for a mallet xxxxxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s 3:11 am and I chuckle at your obsessive sheep story. I hope the cottony creatures stood still for you. Maybe whoever wrote the song, “Grazing In The Grass,” had a similar problem. I think I’ll try counting clouds.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I should’ve called you.
LikeLike
I don’t think counting sheep is meant to set your imagination running 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m cursed!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like to imagine the sheep counting each other.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Maybe that would work! I managed about two hours of sheep, I mean sleep, last night. Ugh.
LikeLike
Me too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Here’s hoping for better sleep tonight!
LikeLike
I just woke from a great 1hr nap!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay!
LikeLike
You may have created a new buzzword. I went through three hours of sheep, etc.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So, should I copyright that? 🤣
LikeLike
Somewhere in this house I have a book called Counting Sheep. It’s page after page of rows of little sheep… that’s it.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Awww!
LikeLike
Counting anything as a way to fall asleep has always seemed counterintuitive to me. That requires thought, and I’m trying to get my brain to turn off, not on!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly!
LikeLike