Reset Button

Roland jogging up the drive after one of our walks around the neighborhood.

We got to hit the reset button a couple weekends ago, and it was such a good thing. We took off for Lake James at 7PM on a Friday night. Right. PM. Like something crazy college kids do...but we've got two kids. We actually prefer driving at night with the kids because they just sleep and we can talk, listen to music softly and haul ass down the highway. (Emphasis on hauling) The little GPS device just pushes us to make better time, showing how many minutes we're shaving by keeping consistent high (sorry Dad, but Mom understands) speeds. We pulled into the drive a full 30 mins ahead of schedule around 1:17 AM. Awesome.

The Super-Saturday-Morning-Sleepy-Cartoon-Recline, 2nd Generation

Then the plan kinda backfired. The kids woke up, realized we were in North Carolina and started partying down. So we embraced it, broke out the wine - for the adults - and hung out till everyone got their excited sillies out, which apparently takes two hours. I'm sure the neighbors thought I was Kris or Calen, but around 3:30 AM we put the happy house to bed.

Roland STILL loves to use the binoculars backwards.

Saturday was a perfect lake house day. Lazy meals, long walks, playing at the beach, a cozy fire in the fireplace, cute movie on the tube and the snuggliest house on the peninsula. I can't leave out our nap though - something about that house - even more than Dyersburg - allows you to sleep deep, restful sleep. It's crazy-quiet in the winter time and in the summer the lull of boats is better than any noise machine.

Aria adored this old tape recorder. We had to remove the wine bottles, stuffed fox, collection of river rocks and, ahem, antique boat motor. No one needs a propeller to the forehead.

Sunday we went on a shoreline hike at the new Lake James St. Park with 'Uncle' Michael Thomas, who was a great guide and lunch companion. (So incredibly patient with Roland.) After yet another round of awesome naps we ventured into Asheville for spontaneous city exploring, enjoying a very fine pizza brew house and local ice cream shop before returning home.

"What? Where? Wait a minute..." Brian had a better caption, but I forgot it. Trust that it was funnier than mine.

Monday we returned to Asheville so Brian could finish a quick job and then wore the kids out at the Asheville Fun Depot (think indoor amusement park). And then eased on down the road home.

Roland pondering life in the old rockers out front of the Grove Park Inn. Seriously big boulders.

It's been a while - 16 months - since we'd gotten a just-us-get-away and it was wonderful. And both times to Lake James. It lingers still and I can't wait to do it again. We're so fortunate to be able to use the house (thanks Mom and Dad) and we look forward to slipping over there this summer for some long days out on the lake.

I wonder what the kids favorite place to reset will be? I think mine would likely be either La Jolla shores or Lake James. I bet my Dad's is the Blackberry Lane farm. I wonder if my Mom's is the back deck of the Nebo house? I imagine Sarah's is a wide open field on a cool summer night. I bet the setting sun into the north CA coast would fit Markana just right.

Everyone needs a 'reset button'. Whether it's a wide-open field, a long spans of beach, a open stretch of road, or a bed full of pillows and no place to go. Maybe it's all and none of these things and just what you make of the moments you're in, either way, I hope everyone gets a taste of reset now and then.

What's your favorite place to reset?