The New Normal

This past Friday was the very last day that I will have to drive a 90-minute car pool school run.  And I cannot tell you in words how that makes me feel.  Dude.  It makes me feel like this photo, that’s how:

Peaceful and relaxed.  That driving was insane, so many hours and so much frustration and so much SITTING STILL.  I did the math the other day and I have been driving an 8-mile-plus school run twice a day for the past FIVE years, which amounts to an average of two hours a day, 190 days a year, or a total of 1900 HOURS of driving back and forth.  Last year, it was so bad that I didn’t even think a daily schedule that looked like this was all that unusual.  I have since changed my mind.  I’m ready for a New Normal.

We are in full summer mode over here, and I am feeling the healing seeping in.  Something about having more time makes all the best ideas come to the surface, and I love, love, love the freedom to get a wild hair and go chasing after it, just to see what magical thing will arise.  That’s how I’ll be spending most of my summer, y’all–soaking in the sun and letting ideas percolate.  Getting the balance back.  More recreation.  More pretty dresses.  Better housekeeping.  More love.  Looking people in the eye and making new friends.  Hosting cook-outs and learning to be a better neighbor.  Sewing up a storm and not worrying if it takes a few tries to tweak it just right.  Folding and re-folding my fabrics, and then finally cutting into the ones I’ve been saving for the perfect time.

The perfect time is always today, you guys.  Today is rocking out.