And it was no different that week. Early the next morning after a warm belly full of pasta lulled me into a deep sleep, I brought him out for a stroll along the coast. The mist coming up off the ocean was bracing and cut through the fog of stress and tiredness hanging on me from the week. When I got back to the house, my mother was already up cooking breakfast. The omelet filled with garden vegetables and a glass of fresh juice was the best breakfast I’d had in a long time.
That first evening had set the tone for the entire week, and it kept unfolding just like that for the next several days. I spent a truly lovely week walking along the ocean with Cocoa, eating the amazing food from their garden, including preserves made from berries picked early in the summer, and just relaxing. My parents didn’t hover over me or expect me to be actively engaged with them at every waking moment. That gave me all the time I wanted to really think about this dramatic move I was making in my career.
I had always been career-oriented. It was just part of my character, and it wasn’t about to change. That was who I was and how I lived my life. Pushing myself toward achievements in my industry was what kept me going. It defined my personality and my perception of life. That was where I found my fulfillment and my sense of self. Remembering that helped to cement my confidence in the decision I made. It wasn’t the easy one. It wasn’t the one that was going to make everything simple and completely secure.
And I liked that about it. Not because I was reckless or because I wanted to take arbitrary risks for some sort of adrenaline rush. That wasn’t the point. I liked that it wasn’t completely simple and secure because it meant more. I was a part of something new and exciting, and something I was making a true impact on. Antony appreciated my skill, and customers loved what I did, but I didn’t make or break that restaurant. It was already well established and trading me out for another saucier wasn’t going to really make much of a difference in terms of its success.
The vineyard, on the other hand, was still in a fledgling state. Maybe not even that. It was at a point where every contribution was critical and really did stand out. If we failed, we failed together. If we succeeded, it was because we’d all pulled our weight and accomplished something pretty impressive.
The week was good for me, and I made it home late Saturday night feeling refreshed and with new resolve. I was really ready to start the venture with Derek.
Just like I promised, I called Holly as I was walking up the sidewalk to my apartment.
“Are you home?” she asked.
“Not quite,” I said. I unlocked my door and stepped inside. “Alright, now I’m home.”
“How was your week?” she asked.
“It was fantastic. Exactly what I needed.”
“Good. How about brunch in the morning? I’m heading out on another buying trip tomorrow evening, and I don’t want to miss seeing you,” she said.
“Absolutely. Usual place and time?” I asked.
Our plans made, Holly and I got off the phone, and I went through the process of settling back into home. There was always the strange duality of getting back home after a visit to my parents’ house. I loved being there and enjoyed every second I spent with them. But there was still a sense of relief when I got back into my own space and my own routine.
Maybe that was just part of being an adult.
I put my folded laundry away and tossed my dirty clothes in the hamper before getting in the shower.
When I got out, I put on my favorite stretch pants and a baggy long-sleeve T-shirt. It was my favorite multitasking outfit. I could justify wearing it around the house during the day and call it loungewear, but its usefulness could also tip right over into pajamas if the situation warranted.
That evening, I brought some of the leftovers my mother packed up for me into the living room along with my notebooks, curled up on the couch, and tucked into a couple of hours of brainstorming and elaborating on the plans that came to mind during my week off. I hadn’t let myself write them down or build on them while I was at my parents’ house. That was meant to be a break away from all things work. I told myself if the ideas were truly valid, they would stick in my brain and I’d be able to pull them out when I got back.
And that was what I did, digging around in the corners of my thoughts, finding all the little bits and pieces I’d hidden away there, and writing them down so I could share them with Derek when I got to the vineyard on Monday.