greenville.

So my husband sent me to Greenville this week. On a mini-vacation. All by myself.

Here’s how it happened:

I was reading a novel, Joy For Beginners, in which a group of friends challenge one another to do something that scares them. Well, the young mom of the group gets challenged to take a trip all by herself. If you’ve been a young mom you understand why this prospect is terrifying. And also very liberating. The character ends up going to Venice and having a terrific time (albeit missing her family terribly).

Obviously Venice is out of the question, but the idea still stuck in my mind and I told David, “I think I want to try it. I want to take a trip all by myself.” He liked the idea. Although he said, “Fly somewhere! Go on an adventure with a girl friend!” I decided I really wanted to be alone this time and that an overnight was a good starting point. I picked Greenville, one of my favorite cities in the south.

We booked a hotel room right outside the city, and I drove the hour and a half on Tuesday morning and proceeded to spent thirty-two hours on a vacation by myself.

What does one do on a vacation alone, you might ask?

Well, the weather was perfect on Tuesday so I did lots of walking. I sat in Falls Park with book three in the Mitford series (for the umpteenth time, perfect vacation reading). I did my very best not to think too much or to over-analyze my life. In other words, I relaxed. I ate lunch at the newly-opened Tupelo Honey Cafe, perched at the chef’s counter with my book, feeling cool as a cucumber.

I drooled my way through Anthropologie (that furniture! those serving bowls!) and then drank decaf coffee on a sidewalk bench and people-watched. I took a nap at the hotel and exercised in the fitness room. I drove back downtown and met my friend Meredith for dinner, and we picked a table right on the sidewalk, twinkle lights strung in the trees overhead, and caught up on the last three years of each other’s lives.

I read lots more of my book and then slept for eleven hours straight on Tuesday night.

Did you hear that, people? I woke up at ten a.m. I felt like a new woman.

Not only that, I leisurely showered and packed myself up and checked out of the room and headed back downtown in time for breakfast at 11:50 a.m. Now that is living in the very lap of luxury.

Wednesday was rainy so I spent a couple hours in a coffee shop sipping English Breakfast tea and writing away on my laptop, then browsed in an art gallery and made-believe that I had $5,400 to plunk down for my favorite painting. I headed back to Columbia and the rain cleared up in time for an afternoon jog at Riverfront Park before going home.

Did I miss my family a whole lot? Oh yes. I know I talk a big game about being an introvert and wanting alone time, but David and I realized that I’ve only spent one night away from him and the kids the whole three years prior to this trip. So yes, I missed them. I felt a little strange sometimes all by myself. There were a couple moments that first day when I thought, “This is dumb. What am I trying to prove? I’m not adventurous. I just feel silly and lonely.”

But as the hours wore on I relaxed more and by Wednesday I settled into myself and felt happy as a clam.

I decided pre-trip that I wouldn’t use any Internet or social media and text only when necessary (just try to stop yourself from checking your smart phone every few minutes and see how it feels, I dare you). And I enjoyed the break so much that I didn’t watch television or listen to music in the car either. It felt very restful. When I returned David asked, “What did you miss the most?” And I said, “None of it!” Let that be a lesson to me.

Want to know the best part of the whole thirty-two hours? Not having anyone ask me to do anything.

And by “anyone” I mostly mean “two little people.”

It was a lovely vacation.

And now it’s lovely to be back home with my man and those two little people.