The Sabbatical... Sort Of

I’ve been on a sabbatical of sorts—if you can call not doing something that you’re already unpaid for a sabbatical.

For a week, I am on a true mommy vacation, a hiatus from the daily grind of laundry, errands, and constant demands.

On Thursday, this was my view (following a lovely hour long hike up the hill).

One of about 200 photos taken on the trek from Lake Louise to Lake Agnes. Notice the fleece? In August.

And the drive home did not disappoint.

Leanne was kind enough to pull over so I could capture the beauty of sky.

On Friday, Elbow Falls sang to me.

If only I could capture how peaceful the sound of the falls was in a photo.

That’s right. It’s time to celebrate the area that calls to me every August when temperatures soar past 100 degrees.

Oh, Canada.

It is almost noon, and I am sitting on Ironic Mom’s deck, in the shade, wearing a hoodie as my laptop warms my legs.

Oh, Canada.

They are much taller in real life.

Yet watching Leanne snuggle with Thing 1 and Thing 2 (the real versions, not their blue-haired counterparts) fills me with longing.

I miss my snuggles. The cries of “MOMMY!” as I walk into a room.

The screeching… eh, not so much.

Being gone encourages my husband to find new and interesting ways to entertain two children alone.

Like going to the military museum so my children can play in an F-16 cockpit and pretend to target each other.

CG learned the military museum was free… and kid friendly.

Don’t feel bad for him. He’s raking in the praise on facebook where I swiped the photos from.

My parents and grandparents have scolded me (in the nicest way) about my lack of updating this summer, as my plate piled with so many things and the words dried up.

Now, I get it.

My family has missed the joy The Tackler has when allowed to drive one of CG’s remote controlled cars (recently repaired from his childhood).

Remote control cars and brick shots: it’s just another July day in Austin.

I haven’t updated how many bricks Lil Diva has reached (12 bricks, for those wondering).

I literally have hundreds of half-composed posts in my heads, full of stories, frustrations, hilarious conversations, melancholy, and joy.

Yet I found myself unable to write them.

Friday, I lugged my laptop outside to Leanne’s deck, enjoying the perfect air. I visited a writing site where I used to do writing prompts twice a week, but I hadn’t in months.

Suddenly, it happened.

The spark of creativity lit, gone for so long.

And I had to write.

Was it good? Eh.

Was it twisted? Oh yeah. My characters would not make good Disney movies.

But I wrote. The characters spoke. Ideas churned where previously there was only silence.

Oh, Canada. The quiet. The natural beauty. The 75 degree weather in August. The ability to sleep in as late as I want.

The place where a wonderful, supportive friend who “gets” it lives and opens up her home to me for an entire week.

It’s good for the soul. And writing.

Now if I could just take the mountains home with me…

* * *

What do you do to recharge?

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