Silent night

It was a perfect day filled with friends, food and games. A ride on the pontoon, a competitive bout of bean bags, and stories told by the fire completed our one-day getaway with friends to the beautiful cabin country of northern Minnesota. Before we knew it, the day was over and it was time to get some sleep before the journey back the following morning. 

Tony and I were staying in the RV we and eight others rented to get up north in order to surprise a friend who had just turned 50-years-old. She couldnt have been more surprised when we pulled up and piled out of the camper. 

So after a day of fun and excitement, we settled into the RV while the others found beds in the cabin or nearby trailer. The night was quiet and the only sound to be heard was from a distant loon. We even commented on the peaceful serenity of the lake.

We closed our eyes and quickly drifted off to much needed sleep.

BEEP! Startled, I turned over, somewhat aware of the origin of that single, disturbing note. I ignored it, hoping it would just go away. I drifted again

BEEP! The peaceful night was once again disturbed by the shrill sound. I decided to do what every wife would. I waited for it to awaken my husband who would then get up and deal with it. I counted off seconds in my head until exactly 17 went by, and

BEEP! Cant that man hear? Why wasnt he getting up?

BEEP! Finally, Tony stirs, grumbles something, and then commences to ripping the battery from the RVs dying smoke detector.

BEEP! Minutes go by with more grumbling and and still no relief from the intermittent torture of dozing off to be awakened by that single, high-pitched chirping sound 17 seconds later. I put my pillow over my head to block it out.

“Its the carbon monoxide detector,Tony says, using the light from his phone to see it better. It says here to change out the unit in January, 2013, so it must be going bad. Im going to open a window and maybe thatll stop it.

Easier said than done in an RV youre unfamiliar with. The blinds are secured to the windows in several places to prevent rattling while its in motion. More fumbling with the blinds, until finally the window is open, letting in the cool night breeze. Tony lies back down and we close our eyes again. We sigh. The beeping was over. Sweet dreams drift back to our exhausted minds.

BEEP! Tony sits up instantly and whips off the blankets in frustration. Within minutes he has his pocket knife out and is back to fumbling with the monitor. I start counting, waiting to be startled awake again.  Thats it. Im disconnecting it completely,he says, determined to get the thing to stop. I look to see him pull the entire unit from the wall and leave it hanging by a single wire.

Finally, he lies back down and we wait, wide-eyed. Listening. Anticipating. 

The torture has ended. No more beeping even after 17 seconds tick by in my head there is nothing but the sound of crickets and an occasional car on the road. At last we close our eyes, take a deep breath and drift off for what seems to be the hundredth time that night —  

CAW! CAW!

I look up. The faint glow of the sunrise is filtering in from the skylight above and a flock of noisy crows are screaming at each other in the tree right outside the open window. 

Tired and frustrated, Tony gets up and slams the window shut. We both vow to bring ear plugs with us the next time we decide to travel to cabin country. The peaceful serenity is more than we can handle.

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