Thursday Thought

A Certain Peace by Nikki Giovanni

it was very pleasant

not having you around

this afternoon

not that I don't love you

and want you and need you

and love loving and wanting and needing you

but there was a certain peace

when you walked out the door

and i knew you would do something

you wanted to do

and i could run

a tub full of water

and not worry about answering the phone

for your call

and soak in bubbles

and not worry whether you would want something

special for dinner

and rub lotion all over me

for as long as i wanted

and not worry if you had a good idea

or wanted to use the bathroom

and there was a certain excitement

when after midnight you came home

and we had coffee

and i had a day of mine

that made me as happy

as yours did you

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There is something rejuvenating about time spent doing exactly what one wants to do - no matter how much we value spending time with our partners. For me, a short absence really does make the heart grow fonder. I truly miss weekend time together it if caused by circumstances beyond our control (e.g. work or other obligations). But I am eager for sail race days - those delicious days where I can wander to the Farmer's Market (without wondering what's going on at home) or nap or bathe or eat popcorn and green smoothies at mealtime - knowing that Trent will come home wind-blown and exhilarated. Our happy time apart makes our time together even sweeter.

While flipping through The Collected Poetry of Nikki Giovanni, 1968-1998 (which I picked up after enjoying her collection Bicycles, which I admittedly checked out solely based on the title) I came across this poem and painstakingly wrote it down in my little green book because it captures just how I feel. I'm not the only one either - a number of friends have told me that (as much as they love their sweeties), they love it when their significant others go out for a guy's night or a wilderness survival trip, leaving time to curl up in a warm blanket and read or watch chick flicks. And like me, they whisper it a little guiltily - as though cherishing solitude means you are on the verge of a break-up. Has anyone else noticed this? And how do you spend your ¨me time¨?