photo, 2007, from along a hiking trail in the midwestThis was my last free weekend for awhile, so I indulged in a bit of self care. Said self care was primarily spending all of Saturday with my spouse - not working, not on the internet, not solving kids' problems. Just hangin' out. Together. Of course, with a spouse like mine, "just hangin' out" involves getting out in the woods. Which was all right with me.
First we explored a little-used DNR nature trail that took us through a wetland on a floating boardwalk, part of which was submerged. I found out how not-waterproof my old hiking boots were. But - when we reached the end of the trail we were at the edge of a bog, surrounded by a tamarack forest. There were no other people. It was still, and peaceful - and I felt grounded again. (A colleague recently pointed out to me that I needed my touchstones, earthbound spirit that I am. So true.) On the way out I was nearly trapped by thorny blackberry bushes - but my DH rescued me, and we had a sweet feast on perfectly ripe berries. After cleaning up the trash we found in the parking lot (beer bottles, soda cans, cardboard boxes - even a knife and fork), we went to get some lunch in a nearby town.
The pub we stopped at had a big sign on the front that read "Bikers Welcome!" They meant the kind of bikers that wear leather - the barstools were even covered in Harley-Davidson emblazoned leather. The sandwiches had names like "Big Ass Burrito," but there were options on the menu that fed this mostly vegetarian - and they allowed DH to substitute turkey for corned beef on his Reuben.
Afterward we headed out to another short trail the DH has been meaning to check out for awhile. This one was very different from the first - paved parking lot with trash cans, actual bathrooms, paved trail - all very accessible. We walked back to the remains of an old spring house, past the trout fisheries and a couple of people practicing their casting in the catch and release ponds, and back out to where the spring water cascaded down past what looked like it might have once been a water wheel. Out near the road the springs became a babbling brook, and once more I had that grounded feeling. Water is really important to me. I need to be near "natural" water - the kind that doesn't come from the tap, or the garden hose, or in overpriced plastic bottles.
We did some essential grocery shopping later in the afternoon - then opted for a quiet dinner at home, and a movie from our collection. R even joined us for part of the movie ("Michael" with John Travolta and William Hurt).
Today we went to a nearby church, where we heard one of my colleagues preach. I did a little work on an upcoming pulpit supply sermon and read in the afternoon. The DH puttered around. Neither of us felt like doing much. Reality intruded around dinner time when M1 called, needing our van to transport his new mattress to his apartment. So we helped him out, met his new kitten, and came home again.
Tomorrow I'm off to internship! Packing my lunch, learning my way around a new church and office - and a new congregation. I can blog about it - as long as the congregation and I remain anonymous, and I'm careful not to be specific about situations. I will say I'm very happy with this placement. I have a lot of respect for the minister who is my supervisor, and I admire what the congregation has done over the years. It's an urban church, about three times the size of my home congregation, and lots of interesting things are happening there all the time. I expect I'll learn a lot - the bonus is that I'm also pretty sure I'll have a lot of fun.
