Friends are Electric

Whenever I take a nap, the first hour upon waking up is always such a strange state of mind. It is impossible to describe, but I imagine it is somewhat like what drugs feel like. I lack a standard of comparison, consequently this experience is entirely unique.

This has always happened to me, for as long as I can remember. The more tired I am prior to the nap the more vivid, strange and memorable the encounter is. For instance, the first really fantastic experience happened after a 24 hour scavenger hunt. I had been awake for something like 36 hours when I fell asleep. I know not what my mind processed while asleep, but when I awoke I the feeling that I knew that I did not exist. It just felt like this was the case. It took about 45 minutes of interaction and contact after I awoke to convince me otherwise. There was no reason why I would ever have this thought, and quite clearly, as Descartes said, cogito ergo sum. But I would have none of that.

The second intensely vivid time happened after a particularly difficult trip between Ottawa and Waterloo. Weather and reality were against me so the adventure ended up taking 30 hours. I slept, but not well. Upon arriving at my girlfriend’s place in Waterloo I passed out for a few hours. I must have dreamed of engines because I woke up convinced that I was an internal combustion engine. Again, entirely absurd, but quite interesting.

This brings me to an hour ago. I do not know what I was this time, but I know that I still feel like I am it. It renders you entirely incapable of function, even typing is intensely difficult. It never happens with regular sleep.

Further Reading:

Hypnopompic

Hypnagogia