I don’t remember in which of Denise Mina’s novels the main characters walks around in a state of permanent lack of sleep. If memory serves, the character grabs mini sleep breaks while sitting, standing or munching on her food – while dealing with the day’s work, of course.

I haven’t quite reached that point yet. But at the end of yesterday’s final exchange of opinions, I know I stood in someone’s house, closed my eyes and rested my head against the doorjamb. Talk swirled around me – all of it informed, useful, etc. Fine, yes, we do that, and don’t forget…

I feel about the same now, except this is the start of the day, not the tail end, and there aren’t too many friendly doorjambs in my immediate future. The only positive in this: something must be of utter importance to deserve attention, everything else just falls away.

Welter of documents, opinions (informed or off-the-wall), behavior patterns, screeching voices and soothing ones. A welter.

Let’s say the photo (done at Le Musée du verre in Carmaux) illustrates a condition of: over there, just beyond the low ceiling, in the world of sleep, a freeze-frame provides a view of illuminated clouds raining down precious drops of … of whatever feels best as respite.

And let’s call this a visualization for the sake of peace and quiet and – hey, why not – harmony.

Allez? Gendarmerie? Social services? Voices, voices, confusion and misunderstandings?

Three, two, one, and the race is on.