Alone with my thoughts

This weekend Evan was gone to New Mexico for his grandpa's funeral. I stayed in San Antonio to catch up on sleep, try to get over this persistent cold, and take care of Annie. For the nearly 2 years we've been married, Evan and I have surprisingly spent little time apart. He went on a vertebrate field biology trip for a weekend last fall. I went to an educational conference and briefly visited my parents without him. He went to Jeff's wedding. And now this funeral.

It was strange with him gone. I realized for the first time in awhile I was alone with my thoughts. Between teaching and spending time with Evan and Annie, I don't tend to think much alone. Or whatever I think about on my drive to or from school comes out in conversation with Evan, family, or friends. I did talk to some family and friends on the phone, but all of my close friends/family here in San Antonio were out of town. I felt a little isolated. Not a bad thing or a good thing per se...just different.

I thought and I thought and I thought. And I did dishes and watched two movies and took Annie to the dog park. The dog park is usually overflowing with dogs, but not yesterday. The temperature had dropped to 40 degrees with a bitter wind. Which I know Grete will laugh at, but hey, it was in eighties here on Thursday. Evan made fun of me when I bought a new scarf and glove set with my Christmas money, but I've already worn them at least 3 times! I arrived at the park with coat, scarf, and gloves. I was sad to see that no one had braved the cold, but I chased Annie around nonetheless.

I paused to sit at a bench and curl my feet up towards my body. The sight of my huddled body drew a honk from a truck whizzing past. I was a little startled. The park is not in a bad area of town, but it is secluded since it is next to an Air Force Base and park of a larger city park but has no residential development. I began to wonder if anyone would stop and bother me. Just then a dark sedan with tinted windows pulled into the parking lot. Now most times, you can see dogs' heads poking out of windows or bobbing up and down in the bed of a truck, but I could see nothing. I got a little nervous, wishing I hadn't decided to stay at the park all alone with my dog. But the park is a good 30 min. away from our apartment. Then I started wondering how weird it would be if someone did show up with their dog--but it was a guy. Just a guy and me and our dogs. How awkward.

Then it happened. A girl...woman, I guess, about my age or a little older, climbed from the car holding the cutest weimeraner puppy. An older man followed her. When they entered the park, Annie ran up in excitement to nose little Lexi, a puppy just her size (though 3 months younger). What followed was Annie's best play experience to date. Annie and Lexi ran, wrestled, and frolicked for a good 45 min. until her owner (Chris), Chris' dad, and I could not take the cold any longer. Another weird thing: I found out Chris is also a teacher but at an innercity public school.

So why have I written so much about so little? I don't know. It just was an incident that made me think. I made waffles this weekend. I went to church by myself and had to talk to people I don't usually talk to--because I have Evan. I watched movies Evan might have--um, would have--laughed at. I am so blessed to have Evan, so blessed to have my job. But sometimes I guess I need to just be. And I did.