My Weekend Away

Friday I wrote about my anticipation of the coming weekend – and it did turn out to be a great experience. But it started out as a minor adventure.

( Unexpected Hotel Complications )

It was a minor adventure, but something of a milepost for me on several levels. First, that I had listened to my intution (something I’ve not always been good at), and then was assertive enough to leave the first place. Second, that I didn’t just go home, but struck out and looked for a better option and did go in to the place that looked like someplace I wanted to be, even when I wasn’t sure I’d be able to afford it. Finally, this was the first time I’d ever stayed in a hotel (and paid for it) by myself. A minor passage, but a significant one, since it demonstrates my growing ability to make things happen on my own, and to claim what I want and go for it.

Class over the weekend was great. It’s being taught by Fr. R., who taught last quarter’s “Christian Anthropology class,” and while this class wasn’t as tightly structured, I enjoy his knowledge and his spiritual wisdom and insight. (I never thought I’d learn so much on a personal spiritual level from a priest!) We went for six hours on both Saturday and Sunday, and will have one more weekend session in February.

After class got out today, I had the pleasure of seeing thomryng for the first time in several months, and meeting jaynefury for the first time. We had Chinese dinner together and good conversation. The evening was ended too soon by a phone call from my daughter’s father asking when I was going to be home. He had made plans based on my earlier statement that I expected to be home around 7pm. It was 6:30 and he was wondering if I was on schedule. I had just accepted an invitation to stay with Thom and Francine for another hour or so and roll up a character for Thom’s upcoming Harn game – and eat some of Francine’s fresh-baked cookies! – but I had said I’d be home, and since the Ex had made plans based on that, and he had been Primary Parent all weekend, I felt obligated to follow through on my original statement.

I hadn’t missed my daughter until Sunday dinner, when the sight of a little blonde girl at the next table brought on that visceral yearning that still takes me by surprise. So while I was sorry to say goodnight so soon to Thom and Francine, it was nice to get home early enough to do bedtime rituals with the Little Princess and spend some cuddle time before she went to bed.

It was a lovely weekend. I really don’t want to go back to work tomorrow!