I’m surprising Maria tonight with an extra night at our favorite inn in Vermont, where we went for our one-night honeymoon ten years ago.

The inn opened up today, we passed the health check and packed our masks, I’m bringing two books, A Burning by Megha Majumdar, and a mystery I’ve been trying to finish for months now.

We will be back Thursday morning, aside from our anniversary celebration, we both realized we need a break, as New York and Vermont open up, we need to open up as well.

The refugees all have food, the Mansion residents are all healthy, Jean’s Place is opening-up. I’m sure plenty of people need a break from politics and my perspective about it.

My head is tired, and so is Maria’s, so that’s when we know we have to recharge a bit.

We have perfected the art of the hit-and-run vacation.

And I want to honor our marriage. We don’t make a big deal out of anniversaries, but this year, it seems important to pause and experience and celebrate our great love for one another.

Away from home and work and the farm, we both relax in a way we almost never do here. We even sleep late. We have a great farm caretaker coming over to keep an eye on things and cuddle with the dogs for hours.

Curiously, I never miss the dogs when I am gone, I never want them on vacation with me. I think we all need some time off from each other once in a while, and the dogs don’t blink when we are gone.

They love their caretaker. I ask her not to contact us unless something serious has happened. I will think about them on Thursday morning.

Maria and both work hard and continuously.  I love to write on the blog but when I look at what I have written, I sometimes blink.

Did I write all of that?

Sometimes, the top of my head feels it is about to spin off into outer space. I thank you for reading me, sharing my life with me, and tolerating me, as some of you have for many years now.

I can’t take a break, I can’t wait to get back.

When I am not writing, I feel like I am melting away into the mist.

So I’ll be back at it Thursday. As always, I won’t be blogging, Maria and I deserve each other’s full attention, and I am very happy to give it and get it.

Much love and peace to you all, we will be in touch soon.