For most people, summer means vacation. Time to get away with friends & family. Weekends filled with camping & music festivals & days floating the river. For me, summer (especially June & July) means CRAZY days at work. I can’t even count the number of barbeque’s, weekend trips, and pool days I’ve missed out on because this is one of the few times of the year when I simply can’t miss work. Accountants have tax season, I have sale season.
While it would be easy to get caught up in the “missing out” on stuff, I think for the most part I’ve found a way to find balance. To “work to live and not live to work” as they say. Still… there are times when I just have to be at work rather than at play. Tonight I came home after 30 hours of work in the last 3 days, feet blistered, energy low to an empty house. Z is at one of the earlier mentioned BBQ’s celebrating a friend’s birthday and although I would of course love to be celebrating with everyone I am quite content to be at home, alone.
The summer evening is warm and our patio is the perfect place to enjoy the weather. I watch the river & listen to the trains as the solar lanterns slowly brighten, daylight disappearing. My favorite iPod playlist is on just a little bit too loud and I have time to breathe. To hear myself think. To have a little separation from the chaos. All day I talk, I listen, I smile. I have to be “on”. The stillness of a summer night and the comfort of much-loved music is pure rejuvenation.
Tonight, I am thankful for the quiet. Time to be alone, to be still, to reflect. Tomorrow I’ll surely be back to my ways as a little social butterfly but tonight I have nobody to entertain but myself.
