As an only child, time alone was something that was always at my disposal.  I grew up learning how to savor time on my own…I grew up learning how to enjoy being on my own.  I had my own room…my own space…my own routine that was refined from years spent getting to know myself.

Once I got married, this lack of time and space to myself made for the biggest adjustment.  I went from having an apartment – and a life – all to myself, to sharing all of this with another person.  Albeit a person I loved dearly, it was still a big change for someone who spent twenty-five years flying solo.

I can remember during family holidays, often needing to lock myself away for a couple of hours with a good book just so I could feel solitude for a little while.  The simple desire to sit all alone is something that I think I will never grow out of.

Of course, having children makes this beyond challenging these days.  At least twelve hours of every day is spent with at least one of them being your little side kick and after a while, you almost forgot what time to yourself even feels like.

Having said that…even though that time alone may not exist as much anymore…it doesn’t mean that the craving for it doesn’t consistently call out your name as the days goes by.

So a couple of weeks ago, I hopped in our car at the crack of dawn and embarked on a four day road trip.  By myself.   I downloaded hours worth of podcast…packed my bags…and decided it was time for – well – time.  On my own.

Part of my trip though was meant to visit with some people very near and dear to my heart.  People who remind me about all the beauty in life.  People who help me to grow as a person.  People who are just downright good for my soul.

One of those people was Kristen.  My beautiful, sweet Kristen.  You may recognize her stunning face as she has made an appearance on this blog many times.  Marriage introduces us to each other…photography created our friendship…and every thing else came over time and space and endless emails contemplating life.

Kristen and I spent hours on a little road trip of our own.  And we talked.  A lot.  We talked about love…we talked about life…and we talked about everything in between.  Then we sat at a restaurant along the water, with two glasses of wine and a chocolate sundae.  And we laughed.  A lot.  We laughed about love…we laughed about life…and we laughed about everything in between.

And that’s the thing about Kristen; spending time with her renews my mind…renews my heart…renews my soul.  Every moment with her is like a glass of wine and a chocolate sundae!!!  Every moment with her…is always exactly what I needed!