“Now, I already know the chorus of reactions: “Oh no, are you okay? Was something wrong? Why didn’t you go explore, see the city, eat something covered in Old Bay?”
Not my reaction at all. After the first paragraph I said, out loud in a room alone, “That sounds wonderful! Good for her.”
Exactly what I might have done. But I would also have enjoyed my, uh, personal handheld portable back “massager.”
Maybe you did too and just have more sense and discretion than to tell a group of strangers. 😜 Sorry for the TMI.
I completely agree - navigating a new city alone is exhausting and confusing. We went to NYC in April and while my son and husband were off doing something I tried to take the subway from our hotel near Penn Station to a store on the Upper East Side. Apparently Autistics have great difficulty reading maps and getting around even familiar areas (which I just learned, but explains so much.) Anyway, I took the wrong train several times and gave up at Columbus Circle, where I had an absolute meltdown in public.
Instead of going back to the hotel, which I might have done but figured since I got all gussied up I should go see something - I took an expensive taxi to a darling little speakeasy and enjoyed myself alone with a book and a cocktail in the quiet and dark until my husband showed up.
I never did make it to the store I was originally trying to find. But I had a really good time by myself. And I managed to turn a very unpleasant experience into a nice evening.
Oh, three days with nothing to do, that sounds positively glorious. Well, nothing to do but write. But that actually makes it even sound a little better, frankly.
Reading how you gave yourself permission to stay inside and go within, I feel more relaxed myself and perhaps more free. Great way to start the week! Thanks Sher.
“Now, I already know the chorus of reactions: “Oh no, are you okay? Was something wrong? Why didn’t you go explore, see the city, eat something covered in Old Bay?”
Not my reaction at all. After the first paragraph I said, out loud in a room alone, “That sounds wonderful! Good for her.”
Exactly what I might have done. But I would also have enjoyed my, uh, personal handheld portable back “massager.”
Maybe you did too and just have more sense and discretion than to tell a group of strangers. 😜 Sorry for the TMI.
I completely agree - navigating a new city alone is exhausting and confusing. We went to NYC in April and while my son and husband were off doing something I tried to take the subway from our hotel near Penn Station to a store on the Upper East Side. Apparently Autistics have great difficulty reading maps and getting around even familiar areas (which I just learned, but explains so much.) Anyway, I took the wrong train several times and gave up at Columbus Circle, where I had an absolute meltdown in public.
Instead of going back to the hotel, which I might have done but figured since I got all gussied up I should go see something - I took an expensive taxi to a darling little speakeasy and enjoyed myself alone with a book and a cocktail in the quiet and dark until my husband showed up.
I never did make it to the store I was originally trying to find. But I had a really good time by myself. And I managed to turn a very unpleasant experience into a nice evening.
Beautiful piece of writing my friend
Oh, three days with nothing to do, that sounds positively glorious. Well, nothing to do but write. But that actually makes it even sound a little better, frankly.
Reading how you gave yourself permission to stay inside and go within, I feel more relaxed myself and perhaps more free. Great way to start the week! Thanks Sher.