The World Needs More 4:00 a.m. Fish Tacos

As many of you know, I have a hard time sleeping fairly often. Five or six hours a night is typical, but I hate it. I'm one of those nine-hour kinda guys; I just can't ever seem to manage it.

Anyway, I often end up laying awake, thinking (about work, usually) or up late writing, but last night I got a craving for fish tacos from Muchas Gracias, a local Tex/Mex place that's open 24 hours (don't knock 'em until you've tried 'em!) So I stuck in my contacts, pulled on a ballcap, and headed out about 3:45 a.m. for a quick drive.

Now, years ago I had a band and was often still up - and out driving - at 4:00 a.m. But lately, all my middle-of-the-nights have been spent at home. I'd forgotten how peaceful the city is at 4:00 in the morning - the streets are nearly empty, the drunks are home or in jail, almost no one is going to work yet. It was a beautiful, quiet drive free of traffic and red lights. (Okay, I hit one red light on the entire round trip, but I didn't even mind it because I was so stressless from the rest of the drive).

Oddly enough, it was like a little mini-vacation for me. A quiet drive through the city, lights reflecting on the rain-slicked roads, all of which were tranquil and empty, followed by two fish tacos - deepfried white fish, sour cream, lettuce, pico de gallo and some lime juice. I was so relaxed and sated by the time I crawled back in bed, I fell straight to sleep.

My point? Everybody's always rushing here and there, stressed, in a hurry, under deadlines and time constraints. I'm no different. I just think we all need to stop sometimes and see the world at 4:00 a.m. and eat something we like, just because we can.

I think the world needs more 4:00-in-the-mornings. And more fish tacos.