On Being Awake

How important is being awake when one is in their 90’s? I suppose that sleeping all night and then most of the day is, in a way, a kindness. But after many years of setting daily goals and trying to achieve ‘something’, it is difficult to just do nothing because one can’t stay awake. I’ve been a tea drinker all my life, hot and cold, but gave it up a few years ago on the advice of a cardiologist. It did not help with an irregular heart beat, so now I am a ‘user’ again in an effort to stay awake. I have found that Provigil does keep me awake and seems to help in doing things again … but the cost of around $1100 for a month’s supply of the generic makes one seriously question … How important is being awake?