and all through the house / not a creature was stirring

… except, around 5:43 this morning, when some kind of animal stampeded directly across our bed, our heads, and our sleeping bodies. Reports vary as to the size, shape, and color of the animal, but from its velocity and travel pattern, we suspect it was a wildebeest or rhinoceros. In a hurry.

As it happens, earplugs did not lessen the stampede’s impact(s) on me, compared to Kate.