Spring Break

When my Dad was alive, my son and I would hop in the car, drive two days and arrive at Dad's house. Since it was such a trek getting there, we'd stay a few weeks. Sometimes we'd stay a month.

Because we homeschool, we were able to do that. I'd pack up school and we'd do it in Grandpa's living room. When Dad died, I knew that I would miss that tremendously.

When we would arrive at Dad's, we'd store our stuff in our bedroom and then clean. He didn't clean. He did keep his kitchen up (to his standards), but he didn't dust, do bathrooms, etc. So I always worked my tail off for him--and I loved being able to do that for him.

We would hit the grocery store, stock up, and then Sam's Club where he'd buy Ginger Snaps for my son and we always got a big box of danishes. Through the week, Dad would take us to my favorite restaurants and of course my son would get to visit Casa Bonita, his favorite restaurant.

We always had a wonderful time. The mood at Dad's house was relaxed, calm and enjoyable. Dad and I would sit at the kitchen table and have long talks. He opened my mind about so many things. I learned more from him in adulthood than I ever did as a kid.

Mom has been gone almost 17 years, and she died before my son was born. I always enjoyed going home to visit when Mom was alive, too, but aside from when I had six weeks off from surgery (and she died then), visits with here were always short.

I miss it tremendously. We usually went in spring or early summer, when I had cabin fever so bad. I knew I would mourn my visits as much as mourning Dad himself.

So, I decided why not create that mood in my own home. Stress has been extremely high this past week. Truth is, my husband is in Germany. I don't like sharing his travels while he's gone for some strange reason. He arrived this weekend safe and sound. It's just me, my son, our three dogs and two cats. What a perfect time to have our own spring break! (Hubby is working, so it's definitely not a vacation for him!)

This weekend, aside from worrying about his flight and 3-hour drive through Germany to arrive at his destination, we took things down a notch. We stayed up late, watched movies and TV, and I pretended I was at Dad's, made a list of everything I wanted to do but never have the time to do. I got so many little mini-projects done this weekend it just boggles my mind! All while being in a very mellow mood!

I've created the atmosphere that Dad's house had. Even my son noticed it and commented on it. Everything is neat and picked up. My iPod is loaded with lots of mellow music that I love: Elton John, Cat Stevens, etc. It's parked on the iPod dock pouring into the house.

We stocked up at the grocery store. Bought some things that hubby doesn't like. We had spaghetti for supper last night. We did NOT buy danishes, though! lol I did buy my son a box of Ginger Snaps.

Yesterday afternoon I noticed my pain had disappeared. Knock on wood. It's not back today. I wonder if taking things down a notch, getting out of our normal routine, helped.

Saturday night my son was watching a movie into the wee hours, and since hubby was gone, I vacuumed. At midnight! I used to do that at Dad's. I'm a night owl by nature, and I was always so productive at Dad's--and that happened here.

Later in the week we have to go to the big city for a dental appointment. While there, in honor of Mom and Dad, we're going to the Olive Garden. (We go every time DS has a dental appointment, but this time we're attaching that memory to it.)

Two days...in two days my spirits have just soared. My shoulders aren't at my ears. I'm enjoying my music, my clean house, marking projects off my list. We're having fun.

I think we (me?) need to allow ourselves to relax. Sometimes we get so caught up in the day-to-day activities of life that we forget to stop and breathe. So while I don't have the resources to take a vacation right now, nothing is stopping me from having a vacation at home.

So here's to a fun-filled week for us! We plan on going to a movie, playing games, and school in relaxed mode, and relaxing! I have many more projects on my list that I know I'll get done! (Including my taxes, yuck.) Hopefully I'll be able to get back into my exercise routine.

Now, I'm off to cross some stuff off my list...