a deep sigh

Labor Day should be celebrated by doing a whole lot of nothing.

Having been raised to believe that all work must be done before any form of relaxation can take place, most days I feel the need to perform tasks in order to feel worthy of taking a break. As I get older, I am learning to temper that, to provide a model for my kid that taking care of yourself is just as important as doing the laundry.

This has been a rare weekend of family time for us. No scheduled dirt bike events, no Scout camp, no demands from our business to deal with. And so far, no homework. We have embraced this freedom, spending Saturday on basic chores like laundry and car washing, taking our time, doing chores that need our attention. Mike and I got to have an impromptu, completely unplanned date dinner at our favorite summer restaurant, Sea Salt at Minnehaha Falls. Charlie got to spend time with his adopted family, the Lanes, riding his bike, playing games, and a little basketball.

On Sunday Mike and Charlie drove to Knobby Ridge for some dirt bike riding-this time just for fun.I spent the day catching up on things that have been waiting on my studio desk for weeks, planted some mums and did a little gardening (a bit of the bounty from my teeny veggie garden): I rewarded myself with a few hours in the backyard with iced tea, books, and magazines. We finished the day with a candlelit dinner in our backyard, Grilled Herbed Chicken and our favorite Sun Dried Tomato Pasta Salad. After the sunset, we curled up in the living room and watched National Treasure Two, and exclaimed over the scenes that took place in the Black Hills.

Today, we have no plans. We may pack a picnic, and the bicycles, and drive somewhere for the day. We may stay in our pajamas until noon and read magazines. But no plans equals pure relaxation, and today (for a change) I don't feel that I have to earn it.