A group of friends meets regularly for lunch and we were talking about how one shouldn't give in or give up, you instead must take care of yourself...at least that's how remember it...someone mentioned how a family member was frustrating them.
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| Delicious ethnic food with plenty of space for whatever size group we might have. |
I recounted my story about the hot sweaty Labor Day weekend drive home from the beach (Why would anyone go to the beach on Labor Day weekend???!?) when my husband was only adding to the clammer of three yammering children stuck in the back seat. I was driving and decided they all needed to just stop poking each other. Instead of inserting myself in the ruckus and raising my voice, I pulled into the Dunkin' Donut parking lot that appeared at that very moment, got out, closed the door, and walked inside.
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| Sugar-raised jelly donuts are my personal favorite. |
Returning with one hot cup of coffee in my hand and donut sugar still on my lips, I buckled myself in and started the engine. They were all very quiet. And I felt much better.
I went further, sharing with my friends my plan to take care of myself, again.
I was looking for an Airstream trailer. You see, my husband, T, was planning on hiking the Appalachian trail and he thought I should too. I'm not so sure that carrying
everything you need on your back is so good for my back. So I proposed that I find an Airstream trailer that needs some TLC and fixing up. Then I would drive T to the Georgia starting point and follow along the way northward. I could stop and paint, visit museums and historic sites, enjoy farmers markets and cafes. We would meet at pre-planned spots or I could hike in to meet him on the AT. T might meet friends along the trail and they could meet me at the Airstream, where I'd have a warm dinner and outdoor shower waiting. They could sleep
under the trailer.
I had no idea how appealing this crazy plan would sound to this bright, successful, happy group of ladies. One friend, L, leaned in and looked me square in the eye, "You have to do something for me: you have to write about it." Someone suggested a blog and several urls were proposed. Much excitement and support followed..share how you find it, where you go, what you do next... In the buzz I couldn't believe anyone would want to know any more about my crazy idea to fix up an old aluminum trailer and
not hike the AT. Was it the allure of the vintage Airstream trailer? Was it that I delighted in saying that T got to sleep underneath? (T has offered to jack up the wheels, to give himself a bit more headroom...he knows I am serious.) Was it that it was
my own space? (I'll tell you sometime how I have cleaned up three different spaces in my home, only to have someone decide how, one after the other, they would make for perfect spaces for their latest project or new bedroom.) Was it that sometimes we need an escape plan? And if we can't at that very moment implement our own plan, we will hold our breath, watch and hope someone else's plan comes true?
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| a first cut at layout |
I went home that evening still pondering the excitement that my idea had generated, and by the next morning I had registered the url "www.whatshedidthen.com" for $10 a year. I used blogger to get started (https://www.blogger.com) and purchased the domain with my google account. That name seemed to capture the essence of the suggestions, was available as a ".com", and was not already taken by a recent book release. As someone interested in history and women's history specifically, I might be able to include a historical perspective on what I find along the way..."she"..."then". (Get it? It might work.)
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| I have to write something |
It has been a month since that lunch, and I couldn't attend this month's gathering. I bumped into L just today who said she'd received much support and interest when she shared my plan with others. So I'm outlining and drafting posts tonight! It is good to have friends who inspire you! And remind you of promises made with a gentle poke. I need to remember to seek out those people who inspire me. And put next month's lunch on my calendar.
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