Sometimes, You Just Need a Break

It's been a long week on many fronts, including personal and professional, and yesterday was simply too much. Once DH got back from soccer (he runs the time clock for the local high school) and we ate dinner, it was nine p.m. and we still had an errand to run.

We took our ancient convertible with the top down since it was a lovely summer night. After we completed the errand, we sat in the parking lot for a moment, looking at each other. He asked, "Is there anything else we have to do today?"

I said, "No, but I don't want to go home. Let's go for a drive."

He smiled. "I like that idea. But let's stop at McDonald's first."

I know that sounds weird, but we live in a small town, and I swear they literally roll up the carpets by nine p.m. When we were dating, we used to swing by the old-fashioned ice cream and soda shop, purchase a couple of milkshakes, and do for a drive on the township and county roads. Since the ice cream shop was closed, the next best thing was one of the fast food places.

And we went for a drive in the country.

And we talked.

That's probably the saddest part about being a Gen-Xer these days. We're so caught up between our children's and our parent's needs we forget to take some time for ourselves.

So we talked and drove by the township cemetery with the glowing tombstone. Past DH's grandparents' farmhouse which looks nothing like it used to.

And really saw the stars for the first time in a very long while.