A Sabbatical from Cabin Fever

I need a sabbatical.  You know, a furlough, a breather and time off from my current state of being.  I am not running away from anything in particular (well, except for…) but this winter seems to be going on indefinitely and a change of scenery might help my state of mind.

The problem is I don’t have any idea where I would go or exactly what I am looking for, I just know that I have cabin fever and the walls are closing in, people are getting overly sensitive to one another and I am tired of my own cooking.  It is like an itch you can’t seem to scratch.  The only treatment, that I can find, that is sure to alleviate this psoriasis is… an excursion! shore leave! a holiday basking in the sun!  Heck, at this point, a day trip a mere two hours away where the grass is green and the flowers are blooming would do a world of good for my mental outlook.

I have even thought of chucking it all and heading to an exotic, faraway city.  I would take on a new identity and live a life of reckless abandon.  I would dine out, even if it meant getting dressed up and wearing nylons, every night.  I would engage in cutting edge cultural events (and I don’t mean choosing a new variety of yogurt).  I would window shop and stop for tea and torte at 4 in the afternoon.  I could exhibit behavior that has only seen the light of day on special occasions.  I would rid myself of the haunting visual of stacks of laundry crying out to be washed.  Vacuuming and dusting would forever be cleared out of my mind.  Fantasy and frolic would replace the menial and mundane.  Chocolates would be found on my pillow every night.  I would be free of the shackles of my own imagination and enjoy room service at will.

Snap out of it!  Reality check!  I have one husband (any more would certainly do me in), one son (a nice even number!), three dogs, a hamster, two fish and several dust bunnies that depend on me.  Not that they can’t do for themselves (I haven’t actually seen them “do”, but I have it on good source that they could if they had to), but they probably need a break of their own.  So what now?  Plan “B” has to be implemented.

Day trips that cater to our desires, yet will let us sleep in our own little beds at night may work well in the short run.  Exploring neighborhood digs (have you ever noticed that visitors know more about the area and what is offered than the locals?) that could reveal hidden treasures in food and adventure may be just what the doctor ordered.

A reprieve should be more of a state of mind than an actual exotic locale.  It isn’t what we do or where we go, it is more with whom we venture and what we get out of the experience.  Although I am still going to hold out for someday heading off to a big city and spending 3 months of quality time to learn more about the place, myself and my family.  Walking to the local bagel shop, schmoozing with the folks and reading a 3-inch thick newspaper will be as close to heaven on earth as I can imagine. Might even make me appreciate a little bit more what I already have.

Cynthia A. McClelland, curious observer of the obvious with interpretations of the oddities of daily life.  Mother, wife and lover of the furry, resides in the north Lake Tahoe area.                      

Cynthia A. McClelland © 2003-