Dear Bill,
My heart went out to you when I saw you trying to keep your eyes open during an MLK Day sermon.
I could indeed "feel your pain." I have been there myself, more than once I might add, and it physically hurt as I tried to keep my eyes open. I don't remember if I ever told you about the prestigious Scowcroft Award, given during my White House days to the person that fell most soundly asleep during a meeting. Points were added for "recovery":
A standard recovery gambit was to awake from a sound sleep, and start by nodding one's head in agreement to something just said in the meeting, something you had not heard at all....
Scowcroft, of course, was hopeless. He could sleep in any meeting at any time of day....
As I heard that minister droning on I made a challenge for the trophy myself.
Your friend,
George