I'm not a chronic-over sleeper, but twice in the past 2 weeks I've dozed in hours late and delightfully unaware. Unfortunately, my reason sounds just as lame now as it did when I was a freshman in college: "I'm sorry I was late. I didn't hear my alarm. I have significant hearing loss, and if I'm asleep deeply enough, I don't hear anything."
Although lame, my reason is true. I'm over 60% deaf in my left ear and 15% in my right. Huh? What did you say?
After being late for my Calc 2 class multiple times as a freshman (yeah, I had Calc 2. Four mornings a week. At 8am.), my audiologist hooked me up with an alarm clock for the deaf and hard of hearing, a.k.a, "The Beast."
The Beast got me through college. The Beast has many special features. It's mind-numbingly loud. You can plug a light into it and it will flash it on and off with the alarm. You can even get an extension that goes under your pillow and shakes it in the morning. I only ever used the obnoxious alarm, but it's comforting to know I have those other things as a backup if I ever need them.
The Beast has been the thorn-in-the-side of many a good roommate. In fact, once in college, my roommate Katie came home to a note on our door. It said something to the effect of this, "The other tenants heard a loud noise coming from your apartment. Unable to decide if it were a fire alarm or very loud alarm clock, they called me and I opened the door. We found the alarm clock and turned it off. Just wanted to let you know we entered your apartment. -The Landlady."
I had accidentally set my alarm for 9pm instead of 9am. Oops.
I haven't used the Beast since college, but after this morning's escapade that made me very very late for my seminary class in Charlotte, I decide to resurrect it.
After dusting it off, I've found it's just as butt-ugly as I remember it. There, that's just what my nightstand needed.
Here's to you, Beast. May I never oversleep again... May you never wake my roomie Lindsay... May my dog not get PTSD from our new morning routine. Cheers.
