Up On The Roof | Sleep Story & Bedtime Meditation

Return to a city of dreamers and artists in this follow-up from "The Cozy Launderette." On the end of summer, you return to a charming brownstone and go to the roof with your beloved pet at sunset to meet with "The Laundry Club." Fresh linens billow on the clothesline as you enjoy an escape from the city streets. After a joyous night, you return to your apartment with your pet and fall asleep atop fresh sun-dried sheets. It's time to dream away.

Transcript

This bedtime story and guided sleep meditation will lead you to a night of deep healing sleep.

You are listening to Up on the Roof.

In this calm sleep story,

We revisit the characters of the cozy lingerette on a summer's day in a city of artists and dreamers in another era.

You walk through Central Park and return to your charming brownstone to join your neighbors who are like family up on the roof.

Every week you come together as part of a laundry club to clean your garments and socialize.

On this perfect evening you gather fresh laundry that has dried in the breeze and sit beneath the stars.

Atop the building you escape the bustling noise of the street and enjoy the quiet hum of the city.

This brings you peace before you return to your quaint apartment and fall asleep.

It's time to dream away.

I would like to welcome you to Michelle's Sanctuary.

I am Michelle and as you are listening,

You may think of my voice as that of a guide and dear friend who is here to help you cross over the bridge to your sleeping life.

I am here for you in this magical transitional time that is set aside just for you.

Every night you have the chance to take a mental vacation and take the best care of yourself.

You have earned it.

Any pleasurable thoughts and feelings are welcome right now.

You may customize this experience however you want and you may tune out my voice at any point and fall asleep if that most appeals to you.

You're always welcome to return to listen again in the future.

Get cozy in your bed and snuggle.

Wiggle out any last impressions of your day.

In the sanctuary of your room and the sanctuary of your mind,

You close your eyes and tap into the healing parts of your imagination.

Begin a full,

Deep breath and inhale until your body is so full of fresh oxygen you can take in no more.

Open your mouth into a great big yawn that becomes a relaxing sigh.

You are graciously telling your body that it is okay to stand down and let go.

Your body receives the signal that you are ready for a night of deep sleep.

Take in another deep breath and fill your belly and lungs until your collarbones rise and you cannot zip in any more air.

Open your mouth and yawn and then sigh it all out.

Your body becomes like wet sand as you sink into your bed,

Safe,

Relaxed and heavy and ready to take an adventure through time.

Decades ago,

The city of New York was a playground for artists and dreamers who came together in an international melting pot.

Times were simpler and people were more connected before the digital age.

The city carried its rich history in cozy streets of row houses and brownstone buildings.

Flourishes of character could be found on every corner from the eccentric inhabitants who thrived in this creative environment without judgment to the embellishments found in the facades of Beaux Arts buildings,

It has been said that when a flower does not grow,

You do not change the flower,

You change the environment around the flower so it may bloom.

For this reason,

You find yourself in this city among the other dreamers who came to this fertile landscape for reinvention and reconnecting with their most authentic selves.

On this late summer night,

The air is warm and devoid of humidity with the most subtle nip of fall on the breeze.

You find yourself in the heart of Central Park and walk along the edge of the lake where rowboats are lazily navigated by visitors and locals.

The last rays of sunlight spill over the lake like molten lava,

Richly saturated and warm.

The lush verdant trees bask in golden hour and when you look southerly,

You see the gleaming towers that line the perimeter of the park.

You are dressed in tailored summer clothes from another time.

They are classic yet comfortable and make you feel confident and attractive.

Walking through the park in this different era,

You are surprised to find that even while the fashion and styles of the time are so different,

The core of you feels exactly the same.

You are you,

No matter where you land in time and space.

You are the awareness of what is unfolding around you and how it feels to be in your body.

You feel relaxed and calm.

And when you inhale the aroma of summer flowers that overflow in flower beds planted along the path,

Your lungs feel rested in a way that comes from a day of laughing,

Walking and breathing deeply.

You venture across the bridal path,

Passing policemen on horseback.

The sounds of the horse's hooves clopping against the dirt path is soothing and conjure thoughts of the city when it was a horse drawn town.

You exit the park and walk towards your cozy side street that is lined with rows of low-rise brownstone buildings.

The stones retain the warmth of the summer sun and radiate heat as you walk in their shadows as dusk approaches.

The sounds of children laughing and playing in courtyards carry on to the otherwise quiet street.

In one of the buildings,

Double French windows open out on the street so a pianist on your block may catch the evening breeze.

Ivory chiffon curtains glide on the soft winds like white gossamer floating into the apartment as the melodic notes played on the grand piano create a soundtrack for your block.

You pause for a moment to close your eyes and feel your feet connect with a sidewalk.

The breeze causes goosebumps to form on your skin and it sweeps your hair softly behind you.

You take in a deep breath and savor the perfection of this moment and of feeling good.

In the movie of your life,

This scene is one of contentment and joy found in the simplest pleasures.

Tepid air,

Piano music,

A connection to your community and familiarity with the home you have created in this bustling city.

You are behind schedule,

But know it is of no concern to the laundry club since everyone is free to arrive when they can.

Most of the year you gather in the cozy basement launderette,

But the summer months bring a different experience.

Everyone washes their clothing throughout the day at their leisure and climbs to the fourth floor roof to hang the damp,

Clean articles from lines strung across the building.

The articles are dried in the summer sun and you convene after sunset to enjoy one another's company and folds the clean laundry together.

You come to your building and ascend the reddish-brown steps that lead to the foyer.

You remove a key and insert it into the cast iron lock.

Sometimes you get glimpses of what it was like when the original owners returned to their home.

At a time before electricity,

When an entire family occupied the building,

Now most of the townhouses on the street have been transformed into apartments and through the evolution of time,

Chosen families began to form.

Your neighbors have become your chosen family and you eagerly look forward to the weekly laundry club meetings.

As you enter the building,

You turn to see an older man on your block walking his grey and white wire-haired terrier.

He gives a subtle nod and smile and you wave to him and while you never catch one another's name,

You are both on a daily routine that causes you to cross paths often.

With welcome familiarity,

The heavy front door gently closes behind you with a soothing,

Soft click.

It's the first door of two that separate you from the noise of the city,

Sealing you into the safe cocoon of your home.

The foyer smells of dried flowers,

As fragrant as sweet potpourri.

Dorothy,

A long-time resident and grandmotherly figure,

Hand-picked and dried them early in the season.

And in every season,

This city block and this building you call home are tended to with seasonal flourishes and celebrations that bring you joy.

Just like the mosaic glass window of the second door leading into the building brings beauty to each day.

Composed of vibrant glass and hues of sapphire,

Emerald,

Marmalade orange and purple,

It is like looking through a kaleidoscope into the hallway.

You unlock and open the door and step onto the soft carpet that leads up the stairs.

You walk up the creaking wooden stairs to your second floor apartment.

The stairwell smells of freshly baked fruit pies made by Madeline,

A young and aspirational baker who bakes for every meeting.

You walk past her apartment door to your own.

You hear your pet scurry behind the closed door and open it into the cool apartment.

The windows are open and you relish the cross breeze that blows with fresh air.

It's the first day in a long while that you have been able to keep the windows up as the hot humid summer air dissipated.

Your pet runs to you and you weave your fingers through their soft warm fur.

You peer out the windows to see the courtyard where gardens overflow with berries and vegetables for the last harvest of the season.

Rainbow lanterns are strung and illuminate the neighboring courtyards where people gather and barbecue and share their tales of city adventures with one another.

Ivy flows down the brick facades of some of the buildings in shades of dark green.

Your waxy leaves reflect the colorful glow of the lanterns.

Human voices reverberate through the open areas and sing song deliveries and mingle with the sweet sounds of laughter and fun.

Your quaint one bedroom has high ceilings and has been decorated to your preferences.

The soft glow of the setting sun casts the room in a golden orange hue.

You walk to the bedroom and grab a wicker laundry basket.

You then walk to the kitchen and take a large bowl of fruit salad from the fridge to bring to the gathering.

You pat your leg and call to your pet,

Who follows quickly behind you,

To ascend the steps to your gathering.

You leave your apartment and walk up the creaking steps.

The sound is familiar and conjures a homey feeling.

You know the common areas of this charming brownstone almost as well as you know your own body.

So many times you have walked through the halls and down the stairs and up to the roof that you have memorized every detail.

The burgundy silk wallpaper etched with a gold damask pattern meets the mahogany wood paneling that runs midway up the walls.

Sometimes you trace the gilded details with your finger,

As intrigued by their beauty as a small child would be.

You climb up two flights of stairs with your pet eagerly in tow.

The heavy metal door to the roof is wedged open and you take in a deep breath when you arrive.

Your heart has accelerated with each step and you welcome the fresh air that contrasts the sweet yet dusty smells of the old building.

You hear the familiar voices of the laundry club waft through the dark corridor as you ascend three steps to the charcoal gray roof.

The soft smell of the roof tar is buried in the sweet aroma of baked pies and clean fresh laundry.

You are the last to arrive at the soiree.

Long lines of clothing and sheets are strung from east to west and north to south.

You duck under your own clothes and squeeze the fabric lightly to feel that it is fully dry.

You instinctively draw a cotton sheet to your face and feel the soft woven fabric against your cheek.

You take in a deep breath and smell the freshly sun-dried linen and relish the clean aroma of your beloved detergent.

The colorful fabric and patterns of your garments and those of your neighbors look like an elaborate tapestry floating on the evening breeze.

Your pet carefully walks ahead to greet Dorothy,

Who sits near a white metal table in a wicker chair.

Dorothy often looks after your pet when you are out of town and you love to watch them interact.

A special bond formed between your beloved animal and this kind woman years ago.

You bring the fruit salad to the table and set it next to the blackberry and raspberry pies made by Madeline.

There is a pitcher of lemonade and sweet tea on the table as well.

Holiday lights are strung around the perimeter of the rooftop and slowly replace the light of the sun as twilight sets in.

Wild stripe across the sherbet and cotton candy-hued sky,

As softly as the cotton sheets that blow on the clothesline.

You look across the level roofs of neighboring buildings that are now empty.

The low-rise townhouses are nestled between the high-rise Beaux Arts buildings that form a fortress around the neighboring blocks.

When walking through the city streets,

It's often easy to forget the sliver of sky that peaks between the tall buildings.

But on the roof,

You feel close to the heavenly colors that slowly darken into shades of navy and indigo blue.

A splatter of glitter appears in the form of stars and a crescent moon rises above the tallest of buildings in the heart of the city.

Tom,

A middle-aged and renowned poet,

Sits on a low wall that divides the roofs of neighboring buildings.

As always,

He has a notebook in hand and a reading prepared for the gathering.

Charlie,

The building super,

Is still dressed in his navy blue uniform.

His eyes sparkle when he speaks with Madeline and his engagement with her often reminds you of that between a loving older brother and his dear sister.

Along the warm glow of the light strung around the roof and the soft golden light that pours from windows of neighboring buildings,

There is a feeling of magic in the air.

Summer is slipping away.

But its golden moments shine brightest in evenings like this.

Soft laughter and conversations in the courtyard and on the street make their way to the roof along with the hum of buildings.

When the laundry club gathers,

You come with a mutual desire to relax and enjoy the simplest of things.

Each gathering feels like a meditation.

You all come from different walks of life with rich experiences and varying reasons as to how you ended up in this city and this quaint building.

And it is the uniqueness of each other that you most embrace.

Madeline arrives as their most authentic self because the laundry club offers a safe place to be met with compassion and understanding.

You sigh and let down your guard and all the expectations of the outside world.

Emily and Madeline begin to take drink and dessert orders for everyone.

And they are often most joyous to play the role of hosts.

The smell of clean laundry now travels on a cool,

Soothing breeze.

The roof still retains the heat of the day and your feet feel warm and cozy resting atop it.

You sit in a chair near Dorothy and your pet is cozily curled up at her feet and drifting to sleep.

And like an elegant dance,

The moments of the gathering blend in a way that you forget the passage of time.

You enjoy a piece of berry pie and wash it down with a summer drink of your choice.

Most often the lemonade and tea are blended into Arnold Palmer's on nights like this.

You relish the tangy and sweet tastes of summer on your tongue.

After catching up and commenting on the beauty of the night,

The gathering is caught in a collective silence.

And then everyone sighs in contentment.

It's time for the reading.

And on this occasion Tom asks you to read the passage and passes you his notebook.

You rise to stand near the holiday lights that illuminate the passage from the poem Summer by Amy Lowell.

And it is summer,

Glorious deep-toned summer,

The very crown of nature's changing year,

When all her surging life is at its full.

To me alone it is a time of pause,

Avoid and silence space between two worlds,

When inspiration lags and feeling sleeps,

Gathering strength for efforts yet to come,

For life alone is creator of life.

And closest contact with the human world is like a lantern shining in the night to light me to a knowledge of myself.

Dorothy's sparkling hazel eyes are the first to meet yours as you finish the reading.

She smiles and declares that as long as she has lived,

She is continuously surprised by how much more awaits her and how much more there is to learn.

After living through eighty summers so far,

Up on the roof on this balmy night,

You feel the promise of what is to come while holding on to the pleasure of the moment.

However fleeting,

It will stay with you and remind you of how wonderful it is to connect with others.

For a moment in the darkness,

It's as if each of your neighbors is surrounded by varying hues of light,

Like lanterns,

Like lighthouses.

The glow offers hope.

You imagine your own aura and the color of light that you emit when you are at your happiest.

It feels good to shine,

To be alive,

To be radiant.

It's time to collect your laundry.

One by one,

You and your chosen family members begin to rise and collect their clean,

Dry items.

You go to your clothesline with your basket and remove the clothespins and items one by one.

For a moment you look at the wooden clothespins and enjoy a childhood memory of the wonder you felt when you first discovered them.

You drop the pins into your wicker basket and flap your dry belongings against the breeze before neatly folding them.

Your pet stands between your feet and their soft fur rubs against your exposed ankles.

Charlie removes Dorothy's lacy and silk garments from the line and hands them to her to fold.

You never imagined laundry could be so fun,

But together it feels like a special excursion.

Madeline folds her paisley dresses and velvet frocks,

And Tom tends to his earth-toned corduroy pants and cotton shirts.

Things are as diverse as the personalities on this roof,

And in this vibrant city,

You feel so lucky to be among them.

Charlie helps Dorothy towards the roof door and they say good night.

Dorothy often attributes her secret to staying agile is making these trips up the stairs and never staying still for too long.

Madeline gathers the last of the pies and empty pitchers in a picnic basket.

She balances the basket in one hand and her sack of clean laundry in the other.

She leaves and Tom follows shortly behind.

You and your beloved animal are the last on the roof,

Which is now a barren and wide open space.

Now the garments have been taken down from the clotheslines.

You sit in this empty space on the roof for a moment,

As if in a meditation,

Your pet curls up near your folded knees.

You look to the sky and offer a thank you that comes out of your mouth in a whisper.

You feel the cool night breeze and take in a deep breath.

You think of all the souls to come before this moment,

And those who will come after and appreciate the beauty of a late summer night and the wonders of the city,

The sky,

And the universe.

Because up on the roof can be such a kind,

Soothing place that connects you to all your pet yawns,

And the feeling becomes contagious,

Prompting you to yawn as well.

Tiredness takes over,

And you are ready to return to the sanctuary of your apartment.

You pick up your clothing basket and retrieve your empty fruit bowl before making your way to the exit door.

You descend the steps to your apartment,

Feeling tired and quite sluggish.

Your arms and legs feel a slight burn with each step,

And you count the stairway to the second floor.

Your pet races ahead,

As eager as you are to return home.

One,

Two,

Three,

Four,

Five,

Six.

You readjust the basket in your arms,

And continue down the final steps.

You once again walk past Madeline's apartment and enter your own.

Close a door behind you and relish the gentle click of the lock as you are now tucked away from the outside world.

Safe,

Serene,

Your sleepy pet follows you into the bedroom,

Where you put away your garments in an antique armoire.

You feel the cool,

Smooth door and brass handle as you gently close it.

You change out of your clothes and into summery cotton pajamas.

A cool breeze blows through the bedroom and promises a night of the perfect temperature for sleeping.

You grab the sheets and quilts from the laundry basket and make the bed.

You smooth out the cotton fitted sheet onto the plush mattress,

And then put the downy pillows into clean pillowcases.

Your pet is eagerly at your feet,

Awaiting the chance to cuddle in crisp,

Clean sheets.

You finish making the bed and retreat to your bathroom with the sun-dried towels.

You brush your teeth and wash away remnants of a summery day in the city.

You enjoy the minty tingle in your mouth.

It relaxes you and signals to your body,

It is time to retire for the night.

You splash your face with warm water over the white porcelain sink.

Everything about this night feels cleansed,

Renewed and fresh.

You bury your face into the fresh clean towel and it soothes you deeply.

You take in a breath and sigh as you hang the towel on a brass hook behind the heavy white wooden door.

You walk through the shadows of the apartment that is illuminated by the colorful lanterns that glow in the courtyard.

You retreat into the dark sanctuary of your bedroom.

When you arrive,

Your pet has already snuggled beneath the covers on their side of the bed.

You pull back the quilt and top sheet and sink into the mattress.

Every deep breath and inhalation of the clean laundry conjures images of freshly laundered garments billowing in the breeze on a clothesline.

You imagine clotheslines in lavender fields and meadows of summer flowers.

You visualize them soaking up the sun between the shadows of city buildings.

You think of all the glorious places where clotheslines may be hung and garments may dance on the breeze.

You imagine what it feels like to drift on a summer breeze while still tethered to a line.

A balance of freedom and being connected at the same time.

Your head sinks into the clean pillows and you close your eyes.

You feel the warm furry body of your pet who has snuggled against you.

You drift between the soothing moment and the sweet calling of sleep.

You surrender to the comforts of the night.

And like a cape around you,

Feelings of love and connection return to you from the newly made memories with the laundry club.

These feelings are your superpowers that will enliven your dreams as you sleep through the night,

Relaxed,

Carefree,

And nestled in the soft and deserved moment.

And in this pleasurable time,

I am going to count you down to a night of deeply restorative and healing sleep.

Ten,

Nine,

Eight,

Seven,

Six,

Five,

Four,

Three,

Two,

One.

Finding bliss,

Finding grace,

Finding peace,

Finding sleep.

It's time to dream away.

Good night.

Reviews

Another fantastic sleep story and meditation with Michelle’s beautiful hypnotic voice. I always end up asleep before the end.

I found this tucked away in a folder. I love this gang. I fell asleep almost right away so I’ll get to return again and again.

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻I was excited when I discovered a launderette story I had not listened to yet. Went in and out of consciousness, liked the idea of community the way it was painted. Something to ponder/daydream about for when I move…🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Great mediation story. Very relaxing.

Beautiful imagery evoked. Thank you

Love the laundry club stories. Did not even make it to the roof this time, ha!😴😴 Very good sleep, much gratitude!!❤🙏❤

I love this one. I never get to the end and I'm always curious how it finishes. Thank you, Michelle!

Perfect. I fell asleep before the story finished! Maybe next time…