So this week was my husband Nick’s 58th birthday.
Because we havent really been out anywhere in so long because of the pandemic, I decided to book us a weekend getaway that is very covid-safe and socially distant. Through Airbnb, I booked us 2 nights at a lakefront cottage with private dock, and even comes with use of a rowboat. My husband loves to fish, and he didnt really get much of a chance this year to do any, so I figured this would be perfect Honestly, just hanging out anywhere different than our own apartment seems like a huge deal right now.
So we just got here, about an hour ago. Its only an hour from where we live, so not a huge road trip or anything – again, trying to stay safe and not go out of state just yet. Anyway, when I saw this place on the website/app, the pictures were stunning. Gorgeous blue water lake with the sun glistening over it, big long deck, private fenced in yard, and the inside looked just as stunning and beautiful. All the reviews from others who have stayed there were top notch. It was kind of pricey per night, but I really wanted to do something special for Nick because last year on his birthday, the pandemic literally had JUST begun and we were on full lock-down, so we sat home and I made us dinner and got him an Amazon gift card and that was about it. This year, I wanted to actually GO somewhere, and since concerts and nights on the town arent really a thing just yet – I figured this was perfect.
Perfect is in the eye of the beholder. The stunning photos online of the property were just that – photos. The reality is a bit more, well … real. Its a quaint little place, dont get me wrong. Buts its pretty small, sort of like a typical studio apartment and definitely smaller than our own apartment – and the general description I would give the place is “run down.” The inside is lovely – the outside property leaves something to be desired, and the cottage itself needs a paint job – badly. And that deck that the pictures made look like it was long and sturdy – its more like very tiny and kind of rickety. And the thing is, it doesnt really matter. Maybe in my old life it would have upset me more that everything wasnt just the way I pictured it – but in this life where my first marriage ended due to sudden death – things like a rickety deck and a house that needs some paint seem not so important anymore.
Whats important is that my very much alive husband gets to celebrate his birthday and he has the honor of getting older. Whats important is that we are together and have a couple days to ourselves in nature and on a lakefront property (even though theres no cable – ugh!!! – only Netflix – but again, not important lol). Whats important is I managed to somehow find a person to love again in this crazy heartbreaking world. Whats important is that right now, as I type this, my honey is outside with his fishing rod standing on the rickety deck, and he just yelled out to me: “Hey baby! I caught one!”
Life is good. And life is heartbreaking. Which is what makes the good even so much better.
