talking in my sleep

Recently, the newlyweds called after I was asleep. I remembered the call. I didn’t remember what we talked about.
So I called them up to find out.
“Arrgghh. I told him you wouldn’t remember why we called.”
“Sorry, I had been asleep for a while when you called. I know it was something important, but I can’t remember what.”
They told me again what was so important two nights ago.
It’s a problem I have. Once I’m asleep, it’s time wasted to try to tell me something without first making sure I am out of bed, in a well-lit room, preferably sitting up. Otherwise, I won’t remember what we talked about.
My son’s wife caught on after she and I had a bunking party. the next morning she chatted enthusiastically about our great conversation.
“I hate to tll you this, but I can’t remember what we talked about. I knew at the time, but when it is dark ad I am laying down, my memory quits. Especially if it is after 10 p.m. and before 6a.m. Even if I manage to stay awake and talk coherently, my brain sleeps.”
So when she called rather late recently, her first question was, “Did I wake you up, Momsie?”
“No, daughtersie, I am sitting at the computer writing. Haven’t gone to bed, yet.”
“All right! So you can talk and remember this conversation in the morning.”
We did and I remembered what it was about the next day.
My husband first noticed my problem.
He starts his day at 5 a.m. while I am still in bed half-alseep.
Frequently, I wake up a bit, we chat and he remind me of important errands or events coming up. I nod, comment and go back to sleep after he leaves.
After he noticed that I forgot important items, he began asking me to repeat when he said.
Obediently, I would repeat his words and remember absolutely none of them when I woke up later.
Once in the middle of the afternoon, I even had a sleep conversation with a total stranger.
I was joining my pre-schoolers in their afternoon nap. A contractor startled me out of my sleep with his knocking at the door.
I stood at the door, foggy with sleep, unable to even hear what he was saying. I knew it was something important. I shook my head, pried open my eyes and tried to focus on what he was saying. I couldn’t.
“Wait a minute, I said, fumbled my way to the kitchen, turned on the cold water and splashed cold water on my face. Finally wide awake, I took note of what he was trying to tell me and he left.
As a child I used to do that — splash cold water on my face after I had been asleep. It was my effort to copy the heroine of a biography on Elizabeth Black, first woman doctor in America. She used cold water to help her stay awake during her long nights of study while she was in medical school.
Eventually I read another book and quit the cold morning shock, but I didn’t forget how it works.
For now it is late, I am sleepy. If I don’t remember any of this afterwards, don’t tell me, I promise you, I won’t remember.