Birthday Crowns

I just returned from a week of vacation, compliments of my wonderful parents.  Each year for my birthday, they give me a week away by myself.  Maybe the gift is more for them.  Or maybe they are just amazing parents who know me well and know my need for solitude.
Most people are surprised to find out I’m an introvert.  Often they even argue with me over it but I assure you, I am an introvert. A very highly preferring introvert – usually in the 80 percent range if you follow Myers Briggs.  This basically means that I prefer to live in my inner world of ideas and thoughts. Just saying that makes me happy.  Inner world reminds me of unicorns and rainbows.  It is my happy place.  My career is definitely an extroverted-preferring world which is a challenge but that is a whole other post.  But basically – after a summer of endless trips and time with people (which I do cherish), I am desperately in need of a week away by myself.
I spend the week usually in Branson, MO.  Mainly because that works well for where my rents book me to stay.  And it is far enough away that I feel like I left town but not so far that I feel like I’m spending a lot of money.  It’s a good balance.  It also makes me feel incredibly young because even at the age of 37, I’m still way younger than most folks at the resort. 🙂  Nothing like getting called “kid” to boost your ego and make you feel young.  Plus, I can out walk most of the other residents and my swimsuit with the ruffled skirt is totally in fashion, if not the preferred choice of swimwear.
What do I do for a week by myself?  Very little which is why it is so wonderful.  I sleep.  I read.  I write.  I shop.  I exercise.  I chill.  I enjoy nature.  Repeat.  I don’t go to shows.  I don’t do group activities at the resort.  I don’t call folks.   I literally can go 2 – 3 days without talking to anyone.  It is wonderful and peaceful.   By the time the week ends, I am energized and restored.  My warehouse of strength and peace has been refilled and I’m ready to keep going forward in life.
It was a near perfect week – with only one exception.  Last year, I ended up coming home really early the last day due to pain in my lower back/stomach and ended up in surgery the next day for a kidney stone.   This year – a toothache that started two days in and lasted the entire time. I’ll still take the toothache hands down over kidney stones but I did have a lot more compassion and understanding for the scene in Castaway where Tom Hanks knocks out his tooth with an ice skate. Anyway, I came home, made an appointment with the dentist and happy birthday to me, I have a root canal scheduled for Thursday.  Sigh.  My 5 year old niece and I are getting the same thing for our birthdays this year – crowns.