
Please note that after a week of rainy days the blue sky and puffy white clouds made me happy.
OVER THE WEEKEND we drove 4.5 hours north through central Ohio farmland, seeing cornfields hither and yon, so that we could go see Zen-Den’s mother. She’s now spending her days in a wheelchair and living in a nursing home. We also wanted to meet up with Zen-Den’s sister and her husband who live about a half hour away from MIL.
We hadn’t seen any of them since November 2019 because of all the Covid-19 restrictions, yada, yada, yada.
The weather for our drive was great, summery warm but not humid. I’ll admit that it was mesmerizing to be on the road after 16 months of staying at home. Everything looked the same, but different.
Mother-in-law was able to chat with us for about 45 minutes before she was tired. Considering her situation she seemed in a good place mentally, physically, and even spiritually. Never one for small talk, we knew that it’d be fast visit with her so we also planned on visiting with SIL and her husband.
We met them at a lovely, Mediterranean-esque vineyard and had a delicious lunch outside on the patio under a large umbrella where adult libations flowed. Then we walked around the beautifully landscaped multi-acre grounds that included a pond, walking paths, a gift shop, and a swanky bar with a hip vibe.
It was a pleasant, relaxing afternoon outside in the sunshine, walking a little, drinking some, and laughing a lot.
I mean A LOT of laughter.

Please note that the empty wine glass, with visible dregs of red wine, was left on the rustic lamppost near the vineyard parking lot.
SO THAT WE could break up the 9 hour round trip drive, on the way back home we stayed at a Hampton Inn. Naturally something goofy happened while we were there because that’s how it goes with us.
When we travel by car we put bottles of water on ice inside a small Igloo-brand cooler that holds about 6 bottles. It’s nothing special, just practical and durable.
As we were getting ready to leave the motel in the morning Z-D went to get ice from the machine on the first floor near the reception desk. He had the cooler with him. When the woman working behind to desk saw him with the cooler she started laughing.
At him. He was baffled, not upset.
She said that she was used to seeing large Igloo coolers on wheels, the kind families take with them, but our little cooler was just too cute for words, a miniature cooler that for some reason tickled her.
Z-D explained that the little cooler was just for the two of us, so it made sense. According to him she nodded her head in understanding, but kept chuckling as he walked away.
Thus it came to be, what I can only describe as, a situation wherein Zen-Den was COOLER SHAMED. I mean, really, who goes around publicly criticizing a man’s cooler? 🤨
Anyhow that’s what we did over the weekend. Just a weekend, kind of normal, like they used to be.
What did you do over the weekend, my gentle readers?

Please note that this is the cute little cooler mentioned above.