I have a new goal: not to fall asleep on the couch by 8 pm on weekends. You see, we are about to become empty nesters as our youngest starts Drexel University in the fall. Our idea of fun has centered around our children for the last 21 years. We’ve been to the fireworks, the zoo, the museums, the beach, the theater, and the aquarium. We’ve taken them swimming, boating, hiking, rock-climbing, sledding, ice skating, go-karting, sightseeing, and more. We’ve taken them everywhere, from the Jersey Shore to the Magic Kingdom to the Grand Canyon. We even went on a Caribbean cruise (pre-pandemic, of course).

It has been fun — so much fun. Some of the most fun I’ve had has been with our kids. They are fun people, but they are seeking out their version of fun without us, as it should be. And now, my husband and I will be on our own again. And I do not want to spend the next 15 years watching tv and falling asleep on the sofa.

So, I’m on the hunt for some fun.

Recently, two couples asked us for dinner and said they wanted to hang out with us more. We have been friends for years but rarely socialize outside our children’s extra-curricular activities or school functions. Now that our kids don’t need us to chaperone or drive them anywhere, we are all looking to expand our friendship circles and try new things. I love this idea. Hanging out with friends is definitely my idea of a good time.

This past weekend was a flurry of activity. Friday night, we saw Top Gun: Maverick at the movie theater. The next day, we took the dog on a car ride to visit my parents. We couldn’t bring grandchildren with us because neither of them was home. I didn’t know we were allowed to come over without at least one grandchild in tow. We watched the Phillies game and brought in Italian food for dinner. On Sunday, we ran errands and did some housework and food shopping before heading out with friends to Longwood Gardens for the evening. And on Monday, we invited my inlaws over for dinner and conversation, which closed out the weekend nicely.

I want more weekends like this. The trick is to plan ahead and put things on the calendar. But also leave room for spontaneity. The possibilities are endless. I want to try new restaurants and listen to live music. Longtime followers of my blog know that exploring and supporting indie bookstores is my idea of a good time. I want to be with people — more so now that I’m working from home and don’t get out much during the week.

I also hope to dedicate some time to my hobbies. I am a writer by trade and hope to be an author someday. I am working on a memoir and looking forward to attending a writer’s conference next month. It will be so nice to learn from and be inspired by other writers who love to read and share their stories.

My husband and I also love to travel. Before the pandemic, we had hoped to go to Italy to celebrate our 50th birthdays. Instead, we are staying on this side of the pond for another year before we travel overseas. When our son recently learned of these plans, he told us he would LOVE to go to Italy. I had to break it to him gently.

I said, “That’s nice, sweetie. I’m sure you’ll get there someday. How about you go to college instead? This is our time.”

This is a new stage of our lives and of course, there is no manual. What have other empty nesters done to find the fun again? Tell me in the comments.

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Hey there – thanks for stopping by. Does anyone want to sit with me on the patio and have a drink? I know it’s not Friday yet, but it’s been a long week already.

Unfortunately, I don’t have much to say tonight. I need to flip my writing schedule and work on this challenge while the creative irons are hot. That typically happens first thing in the morning – certainly not after a long day of work.

So, I’m sorry to keep this short and sweet tonight. I’m going to go and recharge my battery, finish my drink, and read for a while.

Meet me back here tomorrow, ok?

Have a good night!

XO,

Elisa

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Today was a huge writing day for me at work. I put together a press release about the tragic shooting at a July 4th parade in Highland Park, IL. One of the people who died was a member of the organization where I work. It was a sad day for those who knew her or felt like we did when we learned more about her life. I don’t think I’ve ever worked so hard to compose four paragraphs.

Anyway, I’ve been sitting at my kitchen counter for the past hour writing a blog post that is not ready for prime time. Now, it is after 9 pm ET, and I have nothing to show for it. Desperate times call for desperate measures. So, here is a top ten list of random things on my mind. (Okay – it was going to be a top ten list, but I’m tired, so I cut it down to five. Sue me 😉 )

1. I need some artwork or something to hang in my home office. At the moment, I’m looking at a blank wall. I used to have a Monet print that I moved from my bedroom wall to the living room to my home office. There is no good place for it. And frankly, I don’t like it. I took it down for good, and now I need something else to put there. I’m considering a vision board of inspirational quotes and photos of places I want to travel to when I retire. But that sounds like a lot of work, so I’m open to other suggestions.
2. I have an old boss that haunts me in my dreams. He was awful to me when I worked for him, and while I haven’t thought about him in decades, he seems to have taken a starring role in my subconscious. And the dreams are so realistic that they are unsettling. I often wake up in a cold sweat and need a stiff drink.
   Ah, memories… How do I get him out of my head?
3. Our dog might need knee surgery. She has this cute little bunny hop she does when she sprints across the lawn. But, we’ve come to realize that she is trying to keep weight off the one hind leg that gives her trouble. The vet gave us a referral for an orthopedist – for dogs. I didn’t know that was a thing. I’d do anything for my pup, but I’m really hoping the insurance covers it.
4. I’m listening to Randy Rainbow’s memoir, “Playing With Myself,” on Audible, and it is such a fun summer read. If you don’t know who he is, check out his YouTube channel. He narrates the book, which is a real hoot! Highly recommend!
5.   I’m so grateful to everyone who read my post yesterday. Writing something on July 4th about not feeling patriotic felt risky to me. I almost didn’t hit publish. I wasn’t sure if people would unfriend me or be upset by what I had to say. Maybe some people were upset but didn’t comment  – which is fine with me. For those of you who read it and supported me, I appreciate it. It is nice to be in a safe space with all of you. Thank you.

Time to call it a day, friends. See you tomorrow with a much better blog post than this one. 🙂

XO,

Elisa

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