Oh the people you meet
Published by Sara Jacobson
Dec 2, 2006 11:19 PM
My husband picked up the kids this morning and for the first time in three months I found myself with some time to myself.
Oh, I’ve had breaks, thanks to my very supportive friends and family. They’ve really pitched in to help, but when they offer to watch the boys for a few hours, it was always so I could get something done or even if it was for a break I always had this clock ticking away in the back of my head, and I felt both a little guilty for needing the time, and a need to get back asap, so as not to overburden them.
But today was different-they are with their daddy, not being babysat, so I wasn’t feeling the guilt nor the need to get things done. I knew, and my friends made sure to remind me, that I needed to take a little time for me, to recharge my batteries so when the boys return tomorrow I’ll be refreshed and destressed.
I knew in order to accomplish this, I had to break from my normal routine. There is stuff to be done at home, and as always a lot of web work, and missed sleep to catch up on, but I need to break away from everything for a bit.
So, I watched a movie with no cartoons, tried to get in on the Kim Komando show (hey that scooba mopping robot is just what I need :), and headed into town. I picked up a coffee, arrived an hour late to a Pampered Chef show hosted by a friend of mine, and managed to mention the boys only 4 or 5 times in a couple hours, then headed to Target. My intention was to find a bill organiser for a reasonable price (translation: on clearance). I found one I think will work nicely, but need to scope out a few other places first.
That task accomplished, I decided to pick up a new sponge for my mop and head home for a nap or work or whatever. While browsing the myriad cleaning supplies I started chatting with a lady in the aisle with me. I’ll call her R——.
We started out debating the merits of Scotch Brite’s product vs Mr. Clean’s Magic Eraser, got on to the subject of housekeeping in general, and from there wandered off on such a variety of topics that I still smile to recall them. I think we must have chatted for 30 minutes or more about everything and nothing. We finally broke off, heading our own ways, and as I walked down the aisle toward the checkout I couldn’t help but notice how I was walking a bit lighter, smiling a bit more.
That short conversation with a total stranger was, oddly, just the ‘breakaway’ it seems I needed. I feel more energized, less stressed, and more clear headed.
Thank you, R——. I don’t know if we’ll ever cross paths again, but your little random chat with a stranger helped brighten the world a bit.
