Taking a Break by Merri Maywether

This October, Randy and I took a weekend hiatus from teaching and writing to visit our sons, Chris and Charlie, in Arizona. Chris is thirty-one, and Charlie is twenty-eight years old.  

When they were little, our weekends were wrapped up in attending their school events. So the weekend was a visit to routines of the past. 

In the weeks leading up to our trip, we planned. 

Chris and Charlie wanted comfort food. Meatloaf, roast beef, and barbecue chicken. And, nary a vegetable was requested, so I planned on having a lot of raw fruits and vegetables. 

Because it was a whirlwind weekend, I made all the meals in the crockpot. We’d go out for the day and return to the house to have a hearty meal and play games. The raw fruit and veggies turned into great nibbling food.

On Friday, we visited the interactive Van Gogh exhibit in Scottsdale, AZ. I studied art history in college but didn’t do anything as clever as study Van Gogh’s self-portraits side by side. 

I was awed.

Vincent Van Gogh captured the aging process in every picture.

The way he used color to capture sound and motion was a testament to his genius.

The exhibit was touching, inspiring and prompted me to question; What stories will inspire people one and two hundred years from now? 

The adventure continued the next day with a viewing of Hamilton.

A year ago, we were in our own homes, talking every weekend, for hours, on zoom. 

I told the boys about watching Hamilton on Disney Plus. Seeing their reactions to the live show made it that much better.

They talked about both shows for the remainder of the weekend. Yes, a mom win!

I boarded the plane back to Montana with a healed heart and mind full of ideas for stories. 

I also was awakened with a keen awareness. Sometimes the cure for a tired heart can be found in the easiest place —with family.

Now that I've shared my story. I have a question for you. What are some things you do to fill your well when you feel yourself getting tired?

p.s. Here is an easy recipe for roast beef in the crockpot. We had no leftovers.

Merri Maywether lives with her husband in rural Montana. You can find her in the town's only coffee house listening to three generations of Montanans share their stories. Otherwise, she's in the classroom or the school library, inspiring the next generation's writers.

🎃  🎃  🎃  🎃  🎃

A Sweet October Read by Merri Maywether

🥣 Start with a mixed-up meet-cute set in small-town Montana

 🥄Add some community fundraisers and holiday activities.

👪 Combine them with a close-knit family

🎃 and we have a sweet holiday romance.  

For a limited time, Paradise Hills Trick or Treat is available for 99¢ at your favorite online retailer. 

 

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