The Sleeper.

     Pregnant women are supposed to eat for two. It makes complete sense. They are growing another life form in their bodies, and like any other parasite it needs to get nutrients from its host. I gotta figure, though, that most of that growing stuff is actually done by the baby, right? So why does that make the soon to be mother so tired? And from what I can tell, it doesn't stop after the baby is born.
     Every once in awhile, on my street, I'll see one of those overly ambitious corporate types running with her children, up hill, pushing an overloaded big-wheeled stroller. I have even seen a pregnant woman running a stroller with kid in it. But that seems to be the exception and certainly not the rule. More than either of those I have seen mothers, disheveled and on the verge of a conniption fit, just trying to corral the unadulterated nuclear energy which apparently exists at the core of every child.
     At the same time, there is something very comforting about a future mother sleeping. I wonder if it's anything like what the disciples felt when Christ was passed-out on the boat when the mother of all storms was hammering away on some shoddy fishing boat. Christ was asleep because he knew he could handle whatever this storm could throw. The disciples were on high alert because they had no idea what to do other than bail water and hope for the availability of a change of pants.
     Maybe that's why she can sleep so soundly. Down deep, she knows what will happen after this kid is born, and she's got it all under control. My job, other than not losing my mind is, is to run support and wake her up when things get out of control. But even Jesus yelled at the disciples when they woke him up. Maybe I should just let her sleep and keep bailing water...