Really. I’m sitting in a hotel room, all by myself. I am drinking a latte, responding to two dozen MommyBlog emails that are way overdue, checking out other mom blogs, writing a book review and completely absorbed in blissful quiet.
A dear friend of mine is getting married this weekend, and due to many reasons (the biggest of which was the airfare cost to this little southern town!), Casey, Kenny and Dudley have stayed home and I have ventured into the Great Beyond. It is the first time I’ve traveled alone since I was pregnant with Kenny. The first time Casey and Kenny have been “alone together” overnight. The rehearsal dinner starts in an hour, and I find myself almost wishing that I could skip it and stay in my present state! Gasp! I won’t, of course, but I am already scheming about my four hours or so of time before the wedding tomorrow that I will have free.
Before Casey and I got married, I used to take little solo trips every year for a few days. I usually went to the mountains, occasionally to the beach, but mostly just to a spot where I could not talk to anyone for 48 hours or so and just read and think and write. I had honestly forgotten how incredibly refueling this is! I said goodbye a mere 8 hours ago, and from the moment I pulled into the airport parking lot, suddenly felt my brain begin to whirl.
I read for an entire un-interrupted two hours at the airline gate (I panicked about being alone and got there really early), and even almost missed boarding for my flight because I was so immersed in someone else’s story. It wasn’t until I heard, “Final boarding call for flight 776 to Columbia” that I snapped out of my reverie and hopped onto the plane. Being the last to board my puddle-jumper, they took my carry-on away because there was no more room in the overhead bins. I managed to hold onto my novel, though, and finished it in good time.
Last night, as I lamented to the women in our home group about having to go to a wedding alone, one said, “Oh, what I wouldn’t give to go sleep in a hotel room by myself for one night. You’re going to wish you could stay the week.” I brushed it off, but now I’ve got to give her credit. This ain’t so bad. And the wedding events haven’t even started.
Now my main thoughts is… how soon can I do this again?
Comments
2 responses to “All By Myself”
Are we talking about the southernness of Columbia, SC? If so, I’m about 45 min from there.
I remember 2 yrs into our marriage, I was called for jury duty in Charleston, SC (3 hrs away). This was during a “trying” time where I worked. I didn’t even try to get out of it even tho many yrs before, I’d always dreaded being called for it. That jury duty turned into a 4-5 week deal. It was so wonderful. Almost a vacation. I stayed 4 nights in Charleston each wk and came home for each weekend. Then went back Sun afternoon. And I didn’t even have to stay for the decision making. Talk about refreshed when I returned home.
I hope you have a wonderful, refreshing time!!
I AM recently a ‘reader’ of your blog.
You are so talented with your words, always a great read!
I too, went on a little vacation via this post…ahh to daydream, think and enjoy a latte All By MYself!
Glad you had a wonderful reminder how important it is to ‘get away’
Here’s to refueling!