Becky and two of her friends are heading out for a few days on a Girls Getaway. I will be holding down the fort, as they say, while she is gone.
Well, I will be holding down this fortress along with Luna. I’m sure Luna and I will find something to do. But what?
I know we will continue going on our daily walks. I will walk while Luna runs hither and yon and expends some of that massive amount of doggie energy she can draw upon. We are lucky to live where she has plenty of room to run. And we are lucky that the neighbor dogs who spend much of their day in a large fenced-in field seem to like when Luna drops by. I can tell by their barking.
One dog in particular, Bentley, loves to run as much as Luna. As we approach a corner of the pen, the two of them see each other and immediately tear off barking and running full steam right next to each other on opposite sides of the fence. They get to a corner, turn then race back to the corner where I am standing, continuing past me, running and speeding to the other corner of the square.
Wouldn’t it be great if I could get such aerobic exercise just by watching her run? It might be a good idea, though, for me to use this special time to get some real exercise. Maybe throw on some running shoes and hit the road without Luna.
I suppose there are chores and repairs around the house I could put myself to doing. But I will likely talk myself out of any such ideas. I see this approaching special time as “free” in the sense that I am the one choosing what the activities will be, and I don’t see myself choosing to do anything like that during this “bonus” time.
C.S. Lewis says it is an error to view any time as “our” time when it is actually God’s time given to us. Of course, Lewis is right. I know I have obligations that will need to be met regardless of Becky’s presence. I will need to catch up with some friends. I will go to choir practice as well as work on a special song for Easter service. I can practice this music while Becky is away. That would be a proper use of “my” time.
I also believe I can justify using some time to move at a different pace than usual. For example, I don’t think it would be wrong to, say, sleep in a little longer for the next few days, assuming Luna doesn’t mind. Also, when we are together, Becky has definite ideas as to when we eat. I mostly do the cooking so I try to have meals ready at regular times. Now, I have no problem with set times for meals, but while I am on my own for these next few days, I will probably be a bit more flexible with my meal time.
While she is away I have plans to do some reading, thinking and writing in my journal. Reading and writing are things I do anyway. It’s just that sometimes events and appointments appear on our calendars that cut into my reading/thinking/writing time. Right now, it appears that for the next few days, my calendar is open. Of course, the situation could change.
Things likely won’t be much different here at the fort except it will be quieter. Becky does have a tendency to comment on the day-to-day minutia of our lives. Also, even with Luna around, it will be lonely while Becky is gone. Loneliness is always a challenge. I’m glad she won’t be gone too long.
Norman Knight, a retired Clark-Pleasant Middle School teacher, writes this weekly column for the Daily Journal. Send comments to [email protected].
