I can’t remember the last time I had such a fun, relaxing weekend as this past one. Lowell treated me to two nights away in the big city. This is something we had never done – spending two whole nights away on our own to relax without the children since they started coming eleven years ago.
The past 3 months of our lives have been hard with crippling morning sickness, stomach flus, and Lowell’s strict schedule with the post office. The whole month of December was hectic for the postal workers with Christmas packages coming from every direction. Many days I’d run packages up to the Canadian border for Lowell while struggling with morning sickness. That way he wouldn’t have to make the extra run late in the evening and instead could be home to help with the children. He was already coming home stressed with the amount of mail they were expected to deliver six days a week. Then it snowed 28 inches in one week and the stress level went over the top.
All through that month, we kept telling each other we’d take a break sometime this winter. After the holidays were over and everyone was healthy again.
We finally got that break. Babysitters were arranged and the children were only too delighted to leave us. So we packed up and headed to the big city with its glittering lights, huge freeways, and people. Lots of people.
And we crashed. Literally.
I was hoping the motel gave allowances in their electric bill for moms like me who relished the hot showers without someone pounding on the door yelling they were hungry.
We slept in the latest we’ve slept in years. Yes, we were lazy. We ate when we wanted, took naps when we wanted, and did nothing which required too much exertion.
Hand in hand, we strolled through the mall. And remembered again why we don’t really like them. Goodwill was a big hit in finding five pairs of jeans for our oldest to grow into. Macy’s was kind to allow me a sixty percent discount on a couple sweaters to wrap around my ever-widening girth.
It felt so good to have time to breathe. Time to look at each other and see someone who is either not the patient nor the nurse. We could talk without being interrupted by five little talkers.
At noon Saturday, we ate at a little Mongolian BBQ which was scrumptious. However, my eyes were actually bigger than my belly – if you can believe that!
There was a family with four little children and a baby seated near us. The four, well-behaved children were all eating their Mongolian food with chopsticks – and were very good at it. Lowell kept watching them to see how it was done and decided if they could do it, he could too. He soon gave up.
I guess in the city you don’t call these moonlight strolls. Not sure what they call them, but I like “lamplight stroll”. Sounds old-fashioned and romantic.
By the way, this red coat gave me a twenty percent discount on my Macy’s sweaters. I went in there to purchase them and they told me that anyone wearing red was getting a twenty percent discount. My sweaters had already been marked down and so I walked out of there a happy woman!
I don’t say that to brag about the savings I found . . . well, maybe it is bragging just a little bit. But you’ll have to remember the mountain I live on doesn’t offer me 20, 50, or 70 percent discounts. All of our big stores are far away. So when I get in one and am lucky enough to snag a deal at the same time, I can’t help feeling a wee bit giddy!
This was one of the very rare phone calls we received all weekend. It was wonderful to have time away from distractions to talk with each other instead.
Lowell wouldn’t let me dive into this delicious food until he had taken a picture. I was ready to jab him with my fork if he didn’t get out of the way soon!
It was as delicious as it looks!!
And nothing compared to coming back home and finding two soft arms around my neck once again, a little soft cheek pressed up against mine, and a delighted little voice saying, “Mommy, I see you!”
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West Woods says
Hey Kendra, so glad you and your man could get away. I truly understand the need with your lifestyle since starting the P.O. God is good all the time!
Kendra Graber says
Yes, you’d know! Now it’s probably your turn. 🙂
Gina says
My husband and I had a get-away just a few weeks ago. I agree – it is so refreshing to have no schedule or agenda for a few days! But I admit that we’ve done it far more often than you the last eleven years!
Hope it doesn’t take that long for you to enjoy another special weekend with your man.
Gina