Road trips and summer memories

WELL, THAT ESCALATED QUICKLY

The summer that we long awaited is now over. Every year, it feels like time for a memorial service as the days get shorter, the pools close, and there is a nip creeping into the air. And yet, for balance, it always seems like the start of a new year; probably because of all the time we spent in school and our lives changed every year at this time. My husband and I have just completed our first summer as apartment dwellers, and it was great. I honestly have no idea what I did all summer to make the days fly by, but they sure did. I kept my calendar open for possibilities and unscheduled day trips (my favorite) and ate out more than I have in the last 3 years. A dear friend and I developed a habit of Sunday morning brunches, and we drove aimlessly each week, happy as Larry, until we found a small café. Of course, neither of us thought to take pictures, so you will have to take my word for it. I think that the fact that we did NOT reach for our cameras speaks volumes about our enduring friendship. We were happiest while watching the asphalt fall away in the rear-view mirror, while we mused and had rambled through stream of consciousness-based conversations. I have always believed that the most meaningful conversations take place while driving – no eye contact, just random thoughts and observations. Thinking out loud as the miles roll by. We covered most of eastern Minnesota, some of western Wisconsin, and north and south of St. Paul. In all that time, we only had one mediocre meal, and that was contrasted by the entertaining ambience of a place called “The Little Mermaid Café,” nowhere near any water, in the tiny town of Askov, Minnesota. It even had a museum, as do most of the tiny towns we visited, though we always went on days that find museums closed. It was a great summer of memory making, quiet introspection, and a freedom from having to be anywhere in particular.

Where to today? East or west

I think we went south last week

I don’t want to hit holiday traffic

Oh, look – there’s a new exit!

Have you heard the news about…

Oh, look – another darn lake!

I wonder which one this is?

That guy behind me is so aggressive

I think I’ll pull over and let him roll on

Hungry yet? Shall we start looking?

Oh, there’s a cute one!

I feel like we just drove back in time

And they’re open on Sunday!

Oh, I’m stuffed

But that pie was so delicious

And that third cup of coffee may have been a bad idea

It will feel good to be home.

See you next Sunday –

Have a great week

With no yard work or real housework beckoning I enjoyed the most liberated summer in my adult life. Got up early, enjoyed a cup or two of coffee, some toast, and played word games on my phone while the world around me seemed to be still sleeping. I have fallen in love with the view of the lake outside the bedroom window, which is different every single time I look at it. One day recently, I woke up earlier than usual and spotted a deer drinking from the lake right near my window. I spent a lot of the time unpacking and rearranging our household and studio possessions, and now I can actually say that I know where things are. Except for a couple things, but they will turn up. I managed to make a few paintings, and the muscle memory is coming back. I have no deadlines, no pressure, no upcoming shows, and plenty of art supplies. The biggest thrill of my summer was having a pool – I swam at least once a day from Memorial Day to Labor Day and I will truly miss it. Luckily there is a very nice, kind of old-fashioned Y right nearby, so I won’t have to go through swimming withdrawal. In fact, I’m more than ready to get back to the gym and start lifting heavy things again. Each time I take a hiatus from lifting I fear that I will have to start over, but I am always pleasantly surprised to see that my strength remains in full force, if not my stamina. But I’m 74, so who cares, right? Showing up is all that matters to me and my mental health.

The days were often too beastly for any serious bike riding, but I made a few forays into the towns nearby. One day I even happened upon a lemonade stand – and downed a cup while visiting with the lovely young purveyors of America’s oldest beverage and a summer staple.

Now I ponder what comes next. I have even thought about working part time as a virtual admin assistant to keep the left half of my brain viable. I miss those spread sheets…and a reason for making them. In the meantime, I have some really great friends who are also retired, and I am looking forward to catching up with them. My mother never got the chance to enjoy this kind of freedom, so in a way, I’m doing it for her. She and I could have had so much fun playing Scrabble and gin rummy…if only. I have spent countless hours with my grandchildren, which only gets better and better the older they get. I am so blessed to be able to while away my golden years doing just about anything that strikes my fancy. We tried to take a vacation this year, but it didn’t really work out. We were recovering from that dreaded disease that we finally caught, and just didn’t have the energy to hike or go sightseeing. After two nights I realized that we had just driven 5 hours to sit in uncomfortable chairs looking out at a lake – which we both agreed that we could do at home, but in comfortable chairs. So we came home, and were glad that we did. There’s no place like home.