The Midlife

Anyone else out there need a pep talk on the eve of returning to work? Not to be mistaken for the Sunday Blues, but equally needed are post-vacay pep talks. I’m in need of one if anyone wishes to send a comment before tomorrow.

So, I’ve been on staycation over Spring Break, and while I absolutely love my job and the bulk of people I work with and get to interact with, there is something completely and utterly satisfying about not going to work for a short or long time. I know I may be peppered with the age-old question of So, where did you go? Or What did you do on vacation? Those are legitimate questions in need of legitimate answers. So, here goes. My answers, which may be boring to most and entertaining for no one.

1. I Spring cleaned. Let me preface this by saying I live in a small space compared to others or even my huge childhood home. And I prefer that. I feel like I live in a hug, which is cool. And part of this space-specific commitment, rooms have to be decluttered and curated, so that we don’t resemble an episode of Hoarders. I blame my collector husband and my pack-rat daughter, although I am guilty of having an overzealous beauty collection.
2. It’s been a few minutes since I’ve stumbled on a binge-worthy Netflix show. And Getting Organized with The Home Edit did not disappoint. It actually complemented my Spring cleaning efforts very nicely. If you are unfamiliar, these two women BFFs and their crew of expert organizers go into people’s homes and help them to get rid of stuff and beautifully organize their rooms with much precision and eye-catching delight. I needed the inspiration, as organizing my daughter’s room drives me to stress-eat and swear. But two bags of donated clothes and a small bag of trash later, her space is anew.
3. One night, I slept approximately one minute. I’m not really exaggerating by much. My daughter refuses to sleep in her room because of monsters. The fact that sleeping next to me is like sleeping with the squishiest body pillow is not lost on her either. But sleeping with her, my husband, and pot-bellied pig pug is like sleeping with two buzz saws operating on full blast.
4. We went to two parks and one playground. Because of stupid Covid-19, it had been a long time since we had been to a lively playground let alone any playground with swings. On the first Spring-like day, we ventured to my daughter’s favorite play hotspot. Gone are the days of yore where the kids of my day face-planted on concrete resulting in a chipped tooth or trip to the ER. The kids were falling down left and right on the rubbery-ist (made-up word) of plush ground you’d find on a cartoon. My daughter made a friend so quickly, it had me lamenting on how difficult this is for people my age today. How cool would it be to be able to just walk up to anyone, say Hi I’m Carmen, What’s your name? And then we would be braiding each other’s hair while swapping bread recipes. (Sigh.)
5. I rode my exercise bike six days, mostly in a row.
6. I nearly completed the Friends apartment Lego set because I’m a sucker for anything in a set. And the centering feeling of putting together a Lego set is much like completing (or in my case nearly completing) a relaxing and time-consuming puzzle.
7. There were a few days when I didn’t brush my teeth until noon. Joyous!
8. I walked my dogs without the need to rush. Over my staycation, the weather varied greatly. It would be Spring-like followed by rain and cold, and repeat repeat repeat. There is something especially comforting for me to have no time-stamp and deadline. To just be. And when I’m walking my perky fat pug and his more senior Chiweenie bro with no need to get back inside, so I can pick up my daughter or run to work, I can listen to the birds chirp. I can feel the wind tickle my face. I can let my thoughts run to peculiar places. And repeat repeat repeat.
9. I stayed up late and slept in later than usual. For anyone who parents dogs and younger, school-aged children, sleeping in is an odd luxury. It happens rarely for me. But there were days wherein I slept past 9 am. And it was delicious.
10. Things I didn’t do on vacation. Read the two books I brought home. Worry about making plans with anyone outside of my family. I didn’t plan like I do at work. I didn’t worry about what I said or did. And I tried not to worry about my mom.

Tonight, I will ask my husband and call my sister for their pep talks. Not because I hate where I work but because not working changes your viewpoint and customs for a short and long time. I need the pep talk to remind me of what is inevitable. There are bills to pay and projects to do. There are people to help and answers to seek. Until the next vacation looms, I’ll be punched in, switched on, and ready to go.

Dear reader, what did you do on your last staycation? Leave me a comment here or at themidlife2021@gmail.com. Until next time, keep smiling … even while at work.