Relaxing for Everyone Else

I had a conference this past weekend for massage continuing education. It was at a retreat area where I was hoping I would get a chance to slow down and relax. Since I was coordinating the weekend, I was not expecting to attend classes, but I was hoping that during classes I would be able to get in some hiking, soaking in the hot tubs, and unwinding.

If you've followed any of this blog, you know by now that nothing in my life tends to go as planned.

The event had a much lower attendance turnout than expected. So when I got a call at 9:15 p.m. right before leaving to drive down (I had actually intended to leave earlier but my carpool friend was running late), I went ahead and booked him into the conference, even though literally every bed at the facility was booked.

The organization could not turn away an attendee though, so I figured I would give up my lodging and sleep in the car if needed. I did throw in a tent and sleeping bag, just in case.

I got a campsite and set up, but when I unpacked my sleeping bag, discovered that my air mattress I keep with it had disappeared (possibly borrowed by husband, but not actually sure I can blame it on him). Thankfully, I force him to keep a large blanket in the car for the dog, so I ended up sleeping on top of the dog blanket.

In a tent with no stakes to hold it down (that I can blame on my husband).

In a weird way, it wasn't that bad. Because I was not in the regular lodging area of the facility, I did get some nice alone time. I actually wasn't that cold or uncomfortable, but I did have to use a porta potty, and one morning I crawled out of the tent wrong, tweaked my back, and gimped around until about 2:00.

Also, the hot tubs I'd so been looking forward to started a migraine, so I didn't spend any time at all in them after that.

But the weekend went well overall and coming home, I was finally able to talk to my husband. This was the longest we'd ever been apart since we got married, and it was the longest I've ever been away from my daughter.

It was so nice to come home to both of them.