Mother's Day Out

Sunday night at 9:00pm I left the country. I left my family. My husband and my kids stayed behind. With my maps in hand, I walked across the border about midnight, and by 2am, when I finally arrived where I was going, I was tired, exhausted, and just thankful for sleep.

OK, maybe that was a little dramatic. You see, my brother, Reagan, came for a visit along with some other friends from TN. On their way back to the USA they were scheduled to go home via Hong Kong and had a day to spend there. So I went with them and acted as tour guide/shopping expert for a day and half, since none of them had been there before and it is a rather large city. The best part was getting to hang out with my brother in HK! We even shared a hotel room.....staying up late every night talking. We saw all the sights and walked until our feet were sore, but it was so much fun. We went up Victoria's Peak, navigated the subway, walked up and down and up and down stairs, left our mark in Stanley Market ( I was quite pleased to find they had Limited Too and Gap clothes at random clothing stalls to outfit my ever growing children), then ate at Outback (YUM), caught the light show, then ended the night at the street markets. It was a LONG day, but enjoyable. I must pause and say that my sweet husband is the most detailed, know-the-best-route-to-take kind of guy. He provided me with everything I needed to get everyone all over town without any mishaps. Thanks Rob!

After a very long day, the group had to leave for the airport at 5am. So, I accompanied them, said my goodbyes (pausing to mention again.....goodbyes at airports are not my fav)....then I went back to the hotel and slept until 11:20. WHAT!!?!?! I can't even begin to tell you how long it has been since I have slept in, let alone slept until almost noon. Then after showering and checking out.....I had a whole day to myself in HK.

And wouldn't you know it....I planned my own day to a tee. I ate lunch where I wanted to eat, bought a book at the bookstore, and becasue I had that store's customer card, got the book for half price....yippee. So, I sat at lunch in a crowded restaurant by myself and read my book. EXCELLENT. Then I went to the import store and bought my family some Deli Turkey and other assorted items, then....I went to a movie, in a movie theater, which is something we don't normally do here. I had a coke and whoppers, which I shared with no one. By the time my movie was over, it was time to go to the bus station. I arrived at 4:04, and the bus left at 4:15, AND they checked me in for my flight right there....AND there was a starbucks right across from the bus station. SCORE. With 5 minutes to spare I got my starbucks and started heading for home. Upon arrival at the airport, I found a Starbucks ( do you sense a pattern in my life?) and sat in the fine coffee filled establishment for another hour reading my book.

I will skip all the details about my flight being 2 hours behind schedule and not arriving home until about 11:30. As I was pondering my "Mother's Day Out" and the joy of having some time to myself, I realized again how much I love my kids and my husband. Life is more fun and enjoyable with them in it. While it is nice to choose your own restaurant, and no one to call you "mom" for 24 hours, or drink your coke in the theater, etc, etc..... It is so much better to be "MOM" and "Wife". As I walked in the door last night, my sweet husband had waited up for me and had 2 dozen roses waiting for me letting me know I was right.....it is better to be together.