Falling, in a good way

I've been falling asleep on the sofa lately, snoozing a little before waking up to brush my teeth and get in bed to really sleep. Last night, I woke up three times but stayed where I was, partly because it was so cozy, with a warm kitty and a polartec blanket on top of me keeping me warm, and partly because I love the sensation of falling into sleep.

What is the one thing that you can never know you have while you are having it? sleep.

But falling asleep is a whole other thing. I started noticing the sensation when I was having a rough patch after someone I was close to died and I was taking Ambien to help me sleep. Ambien brings on sleep sofastjustlikethat. I'd try really hard to resist it, but couldn't. It would draw me in. Falling asleep feels warm and dark and soft, the most pleasant soothing darkness rising up from underneath and enveloping the body and soul and blotting off everything. I love the sensation.

The closest thing to it that I know is a backroll off a dive boat on a warm water dive. There's a brief splash of impact in a backroll entry that you don't have in falling asleep, but the plunge & drift backward & upside down, being embraced and supported weighlessly in water is similar. It's just that you don't drift down into darkness, then unconsciousness when you're diving - at least, not if the equipment's working!

Umm, I love it. Love being in water, love falling asleep.