Stay-Awaycation

You should just take a week off and not go anywhere, my husband suggested. So, I imagined it. Taking a week during my favorite month to stay around the house, get some yard work done, do a lot of reading, go on hikes. I had never taken a staycation before. I immediately got my phone and electronically requested a week off in October.

As weeks progressed, I did some day-trip travels. I went to Shenandoah National Park with a friend and bought a book about Shenandoah's geology there. I went to New River Gorge National Park. I realized that I didn't take my annual April solo road-trip and, well, I hadn't taken my dog Silas on a trip in a while.

So, I changed my mind. I think I'll take Silas on an overnighter in Shenandoah and then spend the rest of the week at my parents' since I never see them. As usual, Brian was okay with my plan to whisk off somewhere, as usual. It wasn't really a plan, though. I had just gotten my car back after hitting a deer and the day I knew I'd be getting my car back, I reserved a camping spot in Virginia. Everything was in stone.

Silas and I spent an overcast day hiking the Appalachian Trail in Shenandoah. He remained tethered to me throughout the day, which both of us disliked because I'm used to stopping and looking and he's used to trotting ahead and waiting for me to catch up. I wanted to be as far away from people as possible. We spent a glorious 24 hours in the park hiking, sleeping in the back of my Subaru that still smelled like the garage, and admiring geological landmarks with the aid of the book I had purchased several weeks prior. In the meantime, I had also solidified plans for the rest of my week, meeting up with folks I hadn't seen in a while or had never met in person.

There is no easy way to drive from Shenandoah to the Pittsburgh area unless you use the turnpike. I did not use the turnpike and wound my way over rivers, through woods, across stretches of farmland, and through the Laurel Highlands. A giddiness enveloped me as I slipped off my sandals in my parents' foyer.

Unable to stay still, though, I was out and about the next day. I looked forward to meeting my online friend Julia the next day for a mushroom hike and to follow that with meeting an old colleague who had since moved to Pittsburgh. Stopped at a traffic light and listening to 16 Horsepower, I suddenly heard a screech of tires from behind and then suddenly I'm thrusted forward.

Someone hit me. Unbelievable. The sixth accident in three years--and the second to happen straight after an uneventful road trip ending at my parents'. All six of those accidents had not been my fault.

The accident then led to a spiral of staying away. I didn't want to be near people, drive near people, or talk to people other than Brian and my parents. I canceled the plans for the next day and spent it on a couch or looking out windows. This was something I wasn't used to but allowed. I kept my plans for the next day, though, meeting with a couple I've known for many years and adore. The weekend consisted of my parents and in-laws visiting with me and Brian at our home. We went nowhere. Over the two days I had left, I did car repair stuff and nothing. I stayed away from everyone and everything. I befriended a resident wasp, read, looked out windows, and made pumpkin soup all with the promise that I'd be back to the usual programming once the stay-awaycation is complete.

Back to work and myself tomorrow.