Dreaming

You guys…it seems there might be a glimmer of light at the end of this very long quarantine tunnel. Sort of.

It’s like when you were growing up and got grounded by your parents for some misbehavior. As the grounding period went on and the parents realized that keeping you home was also punishment for them, they slowly but surely loosened the restrictions. First, you’d be allowed to use the phone. Then, they’d allow a quick pizza dinner on a Friday night (coincidence?) as long as you were back to lockdown on Saturday morning. That’s where we are; restrictions are slowly being lifted, we’re being allowed to venture out into the world for a short time, as long as we promise not to go nuts, and spend the majority of our time hunkered down in our bunker. It’s not total freedom yet, but the thought has me dreaming of things I’ll do once I’m allowed to see the light of day. It’s like my own personal Dr. Seuss book…”Oh! The Places You’ll Go.”

SIDE NOTE: Dreaming has been especially important for my mental health this week because the NFL draft went on for 72 hours. And I couldn’t just leave. I like a football game as much as anyone, but in no circumstance do I need to watch Roger Goodell broadcast from his basement. The man is just so extra.

Back to my hopes and dreams for my future. The following are not places I’d typically look forward to going. In fact, I’d probably feign an illness or reschedule a time or two before I actually showed up. But, desperate times call for desperate measures. I’ll go anywhere.

DENTIST– I’ll even go knowing that I have a cavity or two. Heck, if the dentist says I need a root canal I’ll suggest we take care of it right that minute. Bring on the novocaine. Afterward, I’ll head off for a mammogram and a gynecologist appointment, just for fun.

PTO MEETING– I’ll show up and sit in the front row. I’ll sign up to bring homemade, gluten and dairy free, zero calorie snacks for everyone. You can count on me to volunteer for every committee and teacher luncheon on the docket.

CAR WASH/GAS STATION– It’s a known fact that my gas tank is nearly empty most of the time. And my black car looks beige at least 25 days of the month. But, as soon as I get the green light, I’m washing that bad boy every single day and filling up when the tank gets below 7/8 full.

ORANGE THEORY FITNESS– Nobody WANTS to go to Orange Theory and work so hard that your heart almost explodes, only to find that you’re in 28th place…out of 30 people. And, those 2 behind you have a walking cast and an oxygen tank. Sign me up though for that first class out of the gate. I’ll lace up my shoes, strap on that heart monitor, and say a quick prayer for the ‘ol ticker on my way in the door.

JURY DUTY– I’ll give those lawyers any answer they want if it means I get assigned to the jury. And I hope it’s a really juicy murder trial, maybe weeks or months long. Bonus points if I get sequestered in a hotel!!

Here’s the thing: I love my house and the people in it. But, even the biggest homebody among us has our limits. It doesn’t look like my dreams will come true this week, and likely not next either. So, in the meantime I’ll change into my sweatpants, turn on a little Netflix and keep adding to my To-Do list. Dream on!!!