Saturday, I had an epiphany: I suck at relaxing.
After shopping for groceries, mowing the lawn, and spending over an hour plucking weeds from the ground in 90-degree heat I wandered into the backyard, sweaty and sore, and found Tara kicking back on a zero-gravity lounger in the shade of our ash tree, Kindle in hand, listening to music. And in that moment, I realized, I don’t know how to weekend.
I wasn’t upset that I was doing the lion’s share—okay, all—of the work. My wife’s declaration, “It’s too hot,” wasn’t at all incorrect. She’s the sensible one, I guess.
I’ve always been this way. Can’t sit still to save my life. If something’s gotta be done, I’m a-gonna do it, even if it can wait until later. Because later, something else is going to need doing.
It’s a sickness, I know.
Even when it’s not physical labor, I’m always doing something when I could be doing nothing. Like, you know, blogging from the hotel every evening on our road trip whilst Tara was immersed in a relaxing bubble bath. Again: she’s the sensible one.
I blame it on my dad. He’s even worse than I am, if you can believe that. This is the guy who will go for a three-hour walk every morning, and then later in the afternoon, decide that he wants to go for another walk. I look like an absolute sloth in comparison.
Speaking of dad (and mom), it’s been a pretty nice visit. Helps that they have a rental car and have been entertaining themselves during the week when we’re at work. Evenings have been spent on the patio (despite the heat), sipping wine and playing corn hole while grilling meat.
Saturday, I went out to the South Dakota Air and Space Museum with them while Tara chose to stay home and take a nap (she so does not suck at relaxing!). We wandered around and looked at the various aircraft just outside Ellsworth AFB, where we lived circa 1983-86.
Today, we took them out to brunch at Belle Joli Winery. And by “took them out,” I mean, drove them up there and ate with them. My mom is one of those moms who insists on paying for everything. If you whip out a credit card, she’ll go all Ninja on your ass and chop your arm off at the elbow, then gleefully slip the cashier her credit card while you’re distracted retrieving your arm off the floor. I may be exaggerating, but only slightly. It’s a battle I’ve never been able to win.
After a fabulous meal, Tara and I ran to Menard’s to pick up a bunch of stuff for the yard and garden. Then, we came home and I transformed an overgrown weedy patch of dirt beneath our backyard lilac into something a little more presentable. Looks mulch better, wouldn’t you say?
Came inside an hour later, hot and sweaty, for a glass of water and found Tara lounging on the couch, immersed in a book.
Because, of course.
Anyhoo. Tara is making fish tacos for dinner. Delicious way to wrap up the weekend, if you ask me. My folks are here one more day, then leaving early Tuesday morning. Like, before sunup early.
Hope your weekend was more relaxing than mine!
Mark My Words 
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