Ick! It's Monday morning after a busy, busy weekend. Monday means there's a new week of classes and a new lack of motivation. I just can't get excited about my classes this term. Regardless, a busy weekend usually means we are all tired come Monday and oh so true that is.
Overall, our trip was wonderful.
Our main purpose was the Vera Bradley outlet sale. We went two mornings and neither were a disappointment. I probably don't shop that sale like a lot of women. I go in, walk through and get out. I don't window shop and touch everything and make long, laborious decisions. I also don't go for the purses. I did get a couple, but I got other stuff. Travel bag, hat, sunglasses, tech items, those were my primary purchases.
The shopping adventures were a bit tamer than the last time. Maybe because it was so early. A few styles of party hats, a clogged toilet and a couple elbow jabs. That's nothing compared to last time. We also stood in line for 45 minutes or less and there was no waiting at checkout. I think we may have missed the craziness.
Probably the best part of the weekend, was the time spent with my husband. It was a light-hearted time relaxing and just being together. Thursday, he was gracious enough to take off a little early so we could make our four hour trip between storms. Friday, we relaxed all afternoon. Saturday, we spent the afternoon on a road trip.
The least fun part of the trip was him not feeling well. Evidently, he caught a stomach bug and was a little miserable. He didn't let that slow him down. Ever the tough guy, he went on as if he felt great. He also has a pinched nerve in his back that is causing pain from his back to his foot. Poor guy couldn't get comfortable driving and was nearly in tears, but proceeded on with a smile.
Friday night, we got to have Pizza King, a local fave with a friend. As I mentioned before, I met this woman on my last trip three years ago. She's such a sweetheart and has a genuine love of people and pets. We spent a couple hours chatting over pizza as if it'd not been three years since we last chatted. When I say chatted, I mean light to very deep conversation. Then, and thankfully so, we headed to her place to let the dogs play and stretch their legs in her back yard. Oh boy, that was exciting. They travel well, but definitely hate leashes and the lack of freedom in a fenced yard.
As we were leaving, I knew exactly how I felt about the evening. I was overwhelmed with love and joy. My friend hugged my husband as if she'd known him for years. As I hugged her, I found myself not wanting to let go. This kind of friendship is what I've been missing. I cannot wait to see her again and don't plan on it being another three years.
On Saturday, we met with friends for lunch. Our friends haven't lived in Indiana long, only a couple years. They will be moving to Taiwan in July to begin a longtime dream of serving people internationally. We had not seen them for several years, but kept in touch over social media. Again, it was as if no time had passed. We had a nice lunch, visiting and hearing about their impending move.
It was interesting to compare and contrast Indiana and Ohio. So many similarities, but Ohio definitely wins most redneck. They had similar experiences in searching for a church, not finding a Southern Baptist church like we'd come from. Also interesting, they've experienced feeling like outsiders there too. While their town is huge, the small communities are filled with people who've always been there. They've had a hard time finding where they fit.
Gosh! That made me feel even better about what I've experienced here. It's not just me! Again!
It was bittersweet saying goodbye to our friends. We are super excited for them. They've prayed for this opportunity for years. But we will miss them. It's unlikely our paths will have an opportunity to cross when they visit as long as we live in Ohio. I'm thankful we got the chance to see them.
On Saturday, we debated coming home early, but decided to take advantage of the time away. After lunch, we took a road trip. About 90 minutes south was the town where I stayed last time. In the town is a hot dog stand. We miss our occasional Saturday afternoon hot dog stand. We lived about 30 minutes from one. So dinner was at Genes Rootbeer. It's not as good as Mugs Up, but it was a fun drive. It was an extended drive because of construction, but worth it.
After hot dogs, we headed for Ivanhoes. Our friends recommended it. It's a hole in the wall restaurant and ice cream joint. Oh my goodness! First of all, I never get ice cream because of my fairy problem. But this place had dairy free. It was strawberry, which isn't a fave. However, I got it in an Aloha Sundae with pecans, coconut, bananas, pineapple and cherry. I didn't even ask how my husbands hot fudge shake was cause I was totally immersed in my Sundae.
After our long trip back, we packed up and planned for our Sunday drive home. This weekend was just what I've needed. As I feel more and more distance from my life and friends from a year ago, it gave me the encouragement to keep going.
No comments:
Post a Comment