So, About That Vacation…

Most of the details from the retreat itself are in my journals I kept while there, so I won't go too much into that and leave it for when I can get them transcribed (soon, hopefully.) The short version is that it was very different than I was expecting, and dug much deeper into my thoughts/emotions than I thought. Sucked my brain out through a straw, pretty much. The journals abruptly end when the shuttle picked me up in Fort Collins to take me back to Denver, I was so wrapped up in spending time with Melissa I pretty much forgot all about them, so I'll go from there…

Seeing Melissa again was wonderful. She kept hugging me all night, so I know she was happy to see me, which is always a great feeling. We went out to dinner with another woman, Melinda, who works in the Denver office and hung out for a while and talked. Once we got back to her place, we spent a few hours just sitting on her back patio and talking and watching her puppy Sam be silly. He's pretty much the most adorable dog I've ever seen, so sweet and so silly and like a big fluffy white pillow. That's one of those memories that will stick with me for a very long time. I was happier than I can remember being in far too long. Good times.

The next day, we took Sam for a walk in the park. We were both pretty exhausted at that point, me from my retreat and her from a trip to visit friends in Minnesota, so we just kinda walked in silence. It was nice to be able to hang out with someone and not have to talk constantly. The exhaustion was the only bad part of it really, it would have been nice if we'd both been a little more there, physically and mentally. Perhaps next time. Hopefully I won't have to wait 8-9 months to see her again!

Once it was time to go home, I was so wiped out I was pretty happy to be going home. But the sadness of leaving really hit me sitting in the plane waiting to take off, just one more hug, one more goodbye… something.

My bad travel mojo struck a bit on the way home too, but not nearly as bad. The flight from Chicago to Cleveland was delayed by about 15 minutes, and the flight attendant spilled about half a glass of water in my lap. But, compared to the mess on Friday, that was nothing.

Now I'm back to work and I'm still exhausted. I didn't get nearly enough sleep last night, and I look to have a fairly busy week so it might be into the weekend before I can get recharged. I need a nap. And maybe a drink. *laugh*