My tendencies lie not in moderation, and in the five years since I graduated from college I have never had a "real" job, but rather a series of lifestyles that have supported me financially: international researcher, staff member at a residential school, Peace Corps volunteers, live-in therapist and now trainer of Peace Corps volunteers. I am not good about taking time away from my "work," but with much planning and second guessing, I brought the rental car (and myself) down the mountain last weekend for 40 hours of rest after 21 days straight of working in the field with 25 trainees. I love my job and felt a mix of guilt an exhilaration while I swooped down the mountain roads last Friday night with my dear friend Shauna (see "drink too much" post below) and Jo, the 70-something nurse in charge of the physical well-being of our trainees. We talked men, marriage (Jo proposed that marriage should be made of a series of short-term contracts, signed by both partners independently every 2 to 7 years, to avoid complacency in the relationship), immigration, and careers. We dropped Jo off at her place and Shauna and I treated ourselves to a swanky dinner at Bobs. A little after midnight, I quietly rolled in with calla lilies and rose bushes in tow, up to 6B (aka the Bella Vista Sorority), where Kate was already asleep.
Saturday morning we had a quick catch-up in the morning over discussions about appropriate attire for judging a business plan competition, and Kate threw in oh-so-casually that she had made me an appointment at a local spa for 1pm. She knew I would never make that appointment. She knows I would've turned her down if she'd asked (so she didn't). And she knew I needed it. My girlfriends have spoiled me for any future partner.
And so I went. And I thought about Constanza, about my trainees, about the things that needed to get done the first 45 minutes while knots were needed out of my muscles. But the last 15 minutes, I watched my thoughts and my beloved trainees float further away and my mind got very, very quiet. Ahhhh.....thanks, Kate. And accomplished another goal to boot. May need to re-accomplish this one once we finish training next Saturday.
