SWB Monday with Tardiness

I am a day late with my Sleeping with Bread post. I spent most of yesterday traveling and catching up with my family. These posts are so good for me as a reflecting point in the week, though, that I wanted to make time for it today.

In the last week, what has given me consolation?

Piggy-backing on last week's consolation, my time away was quite refreshing. I experienced rest, renewal and relationship: rest in the form of lazing about my friend's house; renewal in the form of the opportunity to read a few books; and relationship in the form of spending time with Michelle and her family.

What a treat it was to wake up whenever I felt like, shower when I wanted, exercise on my own schedule, not have to think about meals but just show up when dinner was ready. Yes, it felt as good as it sounds. I had been working on two books before I left and without the distractions of everyday life, was able to finish both of them: Revolutionary Road and The Banyan Tree. I then started working on Beach Music by Pat Conroy.

I really enjoy Michelle's three sons and although her husband was busy with some evening meetings, it is always nice to have some talk time with him. Although the joke between us is that he is lucky I like him, he's a keeper. And best of course, was time to hang out with Michelle, see a couple of movies (The Departed and Marie Antoinette,) try to catch her up on two seasons of Lost (not an easy task,) spend a day driving up to Dayton to see a rare exhibition of Rembrandt paintings and etchings and so on and so on. It was a dark day... who am I kidding... it was a dark few months when Michelle left California and I feel blessed to have had so many opportunities to see her since she left.

In the last week, for what caused me desolation?

It was so nice to get away for my "mommy vacation" that I can hardly think of any feelings of desolation at all. I did experience some loneliness for my kids toward the end of the week. What I noticed is that I usually missed them most when I was somewhere where there were things I could buy for them. There is a book called The Five Love Languages which discusses the different ways that people give and receive love. I am definitely a person who expresses love by giving gifts.

I also felt some sadness in the last few days as I have been reading Beach Music. The main character, Jack, reminds me of my late uncle. The sadness is not so much about my uncle's death and grieving that but in thinking about the demons he faced during his life.

And I guess, to be perfectly frank, I would have to add the anxiety I feel when flying. My mother's little helper, Xanax, helped with that and the flights home were pretty smooth. Being the extrovert that I am, I also kept busy talking with my fellow passengers which helped to pass the time.



Also Sleeping with Bread this week:

Atypical of nonsensical text: when all you have are breadcrumbs.

Sheila of musings of a mommy: Sleeping with Bread.