…my how things have changed since summer 2007 when I spent a weekend alone for practically the first time. ever. This blog post from that June sprung to mind as soon as I saw Carole’s prompt for today, specifically the part about that “one-way conversation”. I’d completely forgotten the super-short haircut and the pink silk skirt outfit (although that business lunch came right back to me as soon as I read the words).

Yep, my hair is longer now. No more business lunches. Chance is gone. Holly is constantly by my side to hold up the dog’s end of those one-way conversations. The girls are grown and we are officially empty nesters. Marc works long hours and travels frequently. I am kind of a pro at alone time. And I’ve learned to (mostly*) love it! Without further ado – ten of my favorite things to do (or not!) when I’m alone:

last night’s “dinner”…complete with internet wandering

1. popcorn and wine for dinner, eaten right at the counter, preferably accompanied by mindless internet wandering.

2. late night/early morning reading in bed. pillows piled high and lights on.

3. marathon TV. I’ve watched entire seasons/mini-series in two or three sittings. most recently Mad Men season 6 when I watched all but the last two episodes over three days and Game of Thrones when I watched seasons 1 and 2 (20 hours?) in a week. sadly, I have nothing queue’d for this week…and Marc’s gone til Thursday.

4. talk out loud to myself Holly.

5. clean. and enjoy it staying that way.

6. or make a mess and not worry about picking it up (this is especially helpful for getting caught up on crafty things).

7. listen to music really loud…and sing along really loud. this one is also very fun with dancing. (I’m a much better dancer alone!)

8. eat what I want when I want.

9. take a bubble bath. with candles. wine. and a stack of magazines.

10. my big “not” is making the bed. Marc cares. I don’t. so when he’s gone, it doesn’t happen.

*my long stretches of alone time come mostly from Marc traveling, often internationally. I worry. I miss him. Time zone differences make it hard to communicate. We miss out on the day-to-day stuff of each others’ lives that make a 30-year marriage work. That list above is only possible because I know “being alone” is a temporary state. Celebrating my alone time is a huge part of being ok with it.

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