My husband’s hours are tough. Those closest to me know this.
I am left to do most of the “dirty” work around here, and it’s exhausting.
This year has been hard with my perimenopause symptoms, the headaches, the kids’ schedules, etc.
It has been challenging.
The past few weeks especially.
Homework, issues, and life stuff reaching an all-time high.
Lots of tears, frustration, temper tantrums, and just storms from morning until the lights turn off at the end of the day.
One day, I literally turned my phone off after my youngest got off the bus and my teenager was safely home.
I just needed the world to be shut away.
I couldn’t “adult” anymore.
Two days later, I ran away from home.
To be transparent, I asked my family to run away with me.
It was Memorial Day weekend and when I told my youngest daughter my plans, she said, and I quote, ” Aww, I was thinking we could just relax!”
You know, like she does 363 of the other days out of the year.
Then my oldest daughter suggested that I leave without them.
Wait, what?
Go…..alone?
Really, I mean are you sure, I mean….OKAY SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN!
Now, I am not one to run away from my problems.
But shit has been too real lately.
Normally, I never get to run away from anything.
But this time, I was given a hall pass.
I threw clothes in a suitcase all while I made sure it was okay with my 15-year-old that she was SURE she wanted to watch my seven-year-old ALL DAY on a Saturday afternoon while my husband was at work.
“Yes Mom, GO!”
“ARE YOU SURE???”
“YES!!”
I quickly packed, kissed and hugged them goodbye.
Then I left.
As I got to the end of the neighborhood, I had second thoughts.
I stopped the car and sent this text:
I miss my kids intensely after I leave them.
Is anyone else like that?
They can drive me crazy, then as soon as I leave them, I immediately regret the decision.
I wanted to turn around and take them to Target. Get them a slushy and something from the dollar spot. Spend the rest of the day together.
But then I knew that my oldest also wanted to do this for me and I needed this weekend away too.
UPDATE-as of the publishing of this we have indeed acquired the driving permit. 🙂
And I have my first gray hairs.
It felt like I was missing something as I got on my way.
It was a strange sensation.
Freedom.
It seemed odd to be in charge of the radio station, the snacks, and my thoughts.
To be honest, it was rather unsettling.
It wasn’t as exciting as I’d hoped.
I shoved a mini donut into my mouth, cranked up the Totally 80s, and sped down 294 toward Indiana.
When I arrive in Ohio, I immediately feel like I am back in grade school.
I am transported to the backseat of my parents Volare’ station wagon.
So here is the real reason I went to Ohio: my soul sister Vikki, one of the two dear friends who came out to save my soul this winter?
Well, her son graduated from college this spring and he was getting ready to move to West Virginia and I was worried I wouldn’t ever get to meet him.
I wanted to meet him before he moved away because this particular weekend was his graduation party/birthday party for his sister, aka my twin.
.
It was during one of our daily group messages, that it was suggested I should just come out that weekend.
Just go.
I am not a spontaneous person.
I made the decision to go 45 minutes before I left.
And Vikki had no idea I was coming.
So those are my shoes in Vikki’s driveway six hours after I left my house.
I took the picture after I got there, shared it to her Facebook wall and surprise.
It’s good to be “home.”
Ohio people sure know how to have fun.
They light a fire to paper and call it lanterns.
These were so cool and it didn’t catch a tree on fire or anything.
Allegedly.
Cheech and Chong.
I haven’t laughed so hard sober in my life.
By the way, it’s not called a “bonfire” in Ohio.
It’s called a “fire.”
Sorry, us city folk call it a bonfire.
Although I don’t remember having “fires” when I lived there.
Unless it was an actual FIRE.
Then it was a PROBLEM.
I got to go to JB’s and pet dogs.
