Lol, now I’m just imagining you squirting him with a water bottle and him running away hissing like a cat.

When I was in the Navy I (a 5'0" female) I would have to go into male berthing to wake up my watch relief pretty often. We had one guy who would wake up swinging so I would just pull back his curtain and swish a flashlight beam across his face until he woke up. Light is the safest tool for that job IME. wholly effective and provides lots of distance.

I hope you get yourself a pair and I hope you love them as much as I do. They do lots of faires around the country, maybe you can try on a pair that way before ordering. Plus, ngl, I really enjoy someone else donning and tying my boots for me. It’s a v pleasant experience shopping with them.

There is a maker I use and I will never buy boots from anyone else ever again. link to Son of Sandlar. I have a pair of their “queen of hearts” style and they are my main work/hiking boots. I do landscaping work clearing invasive vines and trees from native forests, these boots get worked and worked hard. They remain comfortable and beautiful. If the steel lined soles give out, they will replace them. They have been selling at my local ren faire for decades and everyone who works their has had their boots for nearly as long. Standard leather care is all you need. I swear by these boots and will try to convince anyone who wants to buy for life that their handmade footwear is the way to go. Plus, they look cool! Plus plus they are a small family business! Check them out!

Note: I have no association with them other than working at the same faire and being a dedicated customer.

I’m made to think of DEATH in The Hogfather, when he gives life back to the little girl, rather than allowing her to die alone on the stairs in the snow. Because that - giving hope for life - is the true meaning of [the holiday]