Today is one of those days I kinda live for. Yes, it’s rainy and with a high of only 71 degrees today in August. Nope, we have nothing special planned. Instead, I plan on cleaning today. Not your dream day? Believe me, I get it. But today is my Friday and on Fridays I really try to get us set up for the weekend. So, by the time Darryl can quit work for the day, I like to have the house cleaned, the pets well taken care of, the yard mowed (if it needs it and right now it doesn’t) and our lives generally calm and quiet. That way, we slide into the weekend in the best position possible. When one spouse works so much, it just makes sense that the other – in this case, me – smooths the path ahead so that both of us can relax and enjoy our weekend.
Today – and this whole weekend – are also an official escape for me. At 5 p.m. yesterday, I put on my out of office for the weekend. The biggest test of my self-control will be to not check email this weekend. I’ve already actually failed that test – I checked it at 7:27 a.m. this morning – but I’ve resolved that this was the “last look.” I was really making sure something didn’t come in late Thursday that I shouldn’t leave until Monday. Everything else? Well, it really feels like I’m in the clear now.
Finally, today I can escape and idealize my life. This is the emotional/psychological boost I need. On those rare days when I largely have the day to myself because my hubby is working and I can focus on just family and home, idealizing my life is one of the biggest escapes I indulge in. During these days, I envision my life as one that is truly just focused on home and family. That the biggest “to dos” in my life are getting groceries, pet care, making dinner and decorating the house. It’s when I escape into that zone that I get my most relaxed and satisfied. It just feels good. And maybe most of all? It just feels calm. Of everything I crave in this world, the simple peace of a calm, slow-paced life is up there along with the health and well-being of everyone I love.
So today, I get to enter “the zone”. It’s literally 7:58 a.m. and I’m just too happy to be here.
Now, it’s not like I’ve let everything slide so that today is a hot mess of a day. I’m actually in pretty good shape here. On Wednesday, I got the lawn trimmed and mowed so it looks fabulous still (and thankfully, we’re at the time of the year that I shouldn’t need to mow again for another 10 days or so). On Thursday, in between the mad rush of meetings, I got the upstairs super vacuumed which is always a good feeling. So today? Iris (the iRobot) will super vacuum the downstairs while I clean bathrooms, dust furniture, finish laundry and go grocery shopping. By mid-afternoon, Iris and I will both be ready for a break. She’ll recharge her batteries and I’ll do the same, possibly by baking a pie.
This is what I live for. I dream of the day where we will both be fully retired and just going day to day, living our lives and enjoying the stream of days to do a special project or indulge in a healthy activity such as cycling or cross country skiing. But for now, I get days like these. And there’s so much to love about days like these. I can channel my mom who was the best homemaker I ever met and I get to feel so connected to her again. I can take my time while grocery shopping and plan meals for the week that I know we will both enjoy. But mostly, at the end of the workday when my husband leaves the cover of his office and comes downstairs, our house will be calm and quiet with the promise of the whole weekend in front of us. This week, we both need that. Busy workweeks, last weekend’s big harvest rush (which was unplanned) and the busy-ness that occurs with the adoption of a new cat took its toll. Turning the page on Friday and having two days where the outside world can’t intrude will be the balm of our collective souls need.
So, that’s how my day is going to go. How about yours?
The Yuppie Homesteader 