My Special Time

Jeff has the lovely pleasure of working every other Saturday. In case you didn't catch that, it was sarcasm. Anyway, since he started having to work this schedule, I have started my own ritual. I get up between 8:00am and 9:00am and go to IHOP. I go alone. I take a book and I go. I always order the same thing because it is really all I like there. Mainly I go for the pancakes but they make a mean omelet as well. I confess that I have been doing this for about 4 months now. My kids sleep in and generally, I am back home before they wake up unless I have errands to run.
It is like a little holiday for me. It allows me to treat myself to a little something special. I have been trying hard not to buy clothes, shoes, or stuff for the house because of the budget. But every other week I spend my $10 for this vice.
Even with all the people talking around me, the clanking of dishes, silverware, etc. I find that this is a great place to lose myself in a book. Mind you, I never take a book that requires deep thought. It is usually something easy to read, something I have read before, or my latest obsession--Newbury Award books. (I am working on reading all the Newbury Award winner books this school year). I spend a leisurely hour or so, eating my breakfast, reading, and relaxing. It is so nice.
Today, I was seated in the middle of the room at a table. I was obviously alone and that was made even more evident when they came took all the other chairs from my table. There were several older couples there and a lot of college kid couples as well. One couple looked over at me and mentioned how sad it was that I was alone. I smiled at them and went on with my reading. You see, several years ago I would not have done this. I was mortified to even think about going to a sit down place where people would stare at me because I was alone. I would drive through places instead. Then one day I decided that I really wanted to eat at a place I loved and the heck with what people thought. I happen to have a book with me at that time and so I ventured in and once I had ordered I pulled out my book. I discovered that I had been foolish in my thinking. What did it matter if other people had a problem with me eating alone? I found that day that I liked it because I could take a few minutes and do something I loved. Read. I was and do complain that I never have time to just sit down and read and here it was. The perfect solution.
Now, I look forward to that time. A perfect little holiday, getaway, vacation. Time to just, as we say at school, Drop Everything And Read (DEAR) time. The only thing I ask is that you don't let Jeff and the boys know. They think I am home in bed during this time. Shhhhh!! :)