Away
In an unprecedented move, the Carpenter and I went away for a whole 24 hours together. Just us two. Alone. Unsupervised.
And because I know you’re thinking it, yes, the Carpenter went along with me willingly. I want it on the record that he was not forced to go. He had full agency.
I say willingly because you all know that my spouse is a homebody. In fact, this was our first night away alone since before the global pandemic. True story.
Long ago I accepted we weren’t going to be globetrotters, so I seek mini-adventures, like theatre trips to the big city, or to the lake every summer, while he chooses to hold down the fort.
My guy is happiest in his own castle (a side-split raised bungalow that really needs a deck and has squirrels in the attic, but whatever, it’s his kingdom). One night is a week in Carpenter years.
Guys, he had fun. We had fun. It turns out, we are still capable of having fun together. Yes, I knew that, but maybe I’d forgotten that away from the routine and the home comforts, we’re still the 20-something kids sweet on each other, trying to figure out life together.
Elbows on the bar of an unknown pub having serious conversations of reflection buoyed by equally serious bouts of laughter over things only we’d understand, because we survived them together. Private jokes. Private history. Kids still, but with wisdom earned and steady hearts enduring.
Don’t make this weird. You can read all you want into what made this weekend special, but I don’t kiss and tell. At this stage, it’s a very different take on 50 shades of grey, okay?
Suffice it to say, this getaway was amazing. A fancy hotel on the Burlington waterfront. A modern studio suite with a massive bathroom bigger and a soaker tub deeper than Leonard Cohen’s lyrics. Prosecco on ice. It was all entirely too elegant for us. (You know we wore bathrobes, right? Turns out extravagance looks good on us.)
My love language is playlists and car rides, which I got to enjoy, but the Carpenter’s is talking construction. Yep. You read that right. So we toured the exterior of one of his proudest projects from his construction career: the Burlington Centre for the Performing Arts.
It’s a gorgeous building but I do remember the stress of that time, the pressure of the work, the chaos of life on and off the job site all those years ago. Watching him tour the grounds, share stories of cranes and fly forms – I’m not gonna lie, it was hot.
Who knew architectural concrete, foundations and anchor bolts would light the spark? What can I say, I have a type.
A lot of moving parts had to happen to make this getaway work. We’re grateful to our son and his girlfriend for giving us this adventure as a Christmas gift, but also for house-sitting the pets. Our daughter, who was also away, was good enough not to text us constantly.
A brief reset was all we needed. A break in routine to remind us that the daily grind isn’t the only reality. It’s amazing what 24 hours away from home can do to ignite your spirit. But also to return home and love it just as much.
Comfortable together.
Our story.
Grateful for it all.