Night in a Motel Near the Airport.

This last episode concerns my trying for a good night's sleep night’s in The Sleep Inn Lodge in Sioux Falls, SD. Others were filled, so it was a third choice of motel chains.  It seemed good, because, the motel was newly constructed. After the check in, I walked to nice room, which was clean, spiffy & state of the art: push wall switches, central AC, floor–to-ceiling shower stall, and full range of satellite TV.

Next,  I toured the towns nearby historic Indian falls, even taking  a trolley downtown for dinner.  Upon returning to the Lodge, I watched some TV and got ready for bed. After turning off  the lights, the room filled with teeny beams.  Every push electrical switch was lighted, making it seem as if two eyes were watching.  The smoke alarm, centered over the bed, had one very bright light, creating a 5-ft. X 2-ft. patch lighted most of the bed.  Squinting bubble lights were embedded in the carpet pointing making a direct pathway to the toilet.  Actually, the only item missing was a machine for starting the disco music with swirling lights. Trying to drop off into sleep, I myself lying in a shaft of light, being watched by pairs of eyes inside the walls.

Completely unexpected was to include the AIRPLANES.  This lodge was built  really close to the airport. Jets would thunder over the motel, causing the bed to vibrate. With a lighted room, spotlight shining on the bed, eyes ever watching, vibrating bed from jet engines: sounds like it would be a kinky event, but it was  a headache for hell.  It were so close to the runway that jets taking off, when I looked from the window blinds, passengers aboard waved. They could clearly see me from their window seats as I could see them. Finally, a jet plane woke me at 3 A.M. That was enough. So, I simply packed my stuff, checked out of SleepLESS Inn, and started driving toward home.

by Dick Kettle