NEEDING A BREAK

Around five months into the covid imprisonment – or at least it seems like one – daughter Tracy, Carter’s mom, called. She and her husband have high-stress jobs and both have been working from home all the while. At the same time Carter was with them, upfront and personal. So, besides working they had to see to it that Carter kept up on his pre-school lessons and was kept busy enough so that they could do their jobs. Five-year-old’s can be a handful. Tracy’s message was short and to the point: “Covid or no covid, we need a break. Can you watch Carter for a week?”

Silly question. We couldn’t wait to get him along with his trusty companion, Carmine. We met them on a Saturday and brought the boys home. Unfortunately, grandmother-wise, Arlena had to board a plane to Denver on Monday to, fortunately, be able to take care of our niece who was recovering from a very serious mountain-biking accident. Nurse Arlena saw her through the critical days of recovery and came home a week later. By that time, however, Carter and Carmine had been returned home.

Arlena’s niece was blessed to have a wonderful and caring nurse to help in the healing process. And I was blessed to have the boys to myself. Carter and I went to the pool, three doors down, almost three times a day, most of the time having it all to ourselves, mostly because our community is doing a great job social distancing and because, even though it was warm, the sun wasn’t out and the tan-seekers stayed home.

We had a great time eating bachelor meals: Eggos, PB&J sandwiches, mac and cheese, pizza, Chick-fil-A and the like and 35 calorie popsicles for dessert and to keep us hydrated. When Carter arrived home and sat down to dinner, Carter found on his plant what he usually does: vegetables. It’s a task to get some down. When Tracy asked him how he did with vegetables while he was with me, he responded: “Pap gave me a break from vegetables this week.”

His parents needed a break from Carter and Carter needed a break from vegetables. There are times in our lives when we truly need a break from someone or something even when we truly love that someone or something. In the process we often discover how important that person or thing really is to us. Okay, it may take Carter time to discover the importance of vegetables in his diet and I was of absolutely no help. But he will learn.

Sometimes needing a break and being able to take a break can’t happen. As long as covid is with us, there is no way to really take a break. If and when we do, we put our own life and the life of others at risk. Sometimes we take the risk because we have to, as Arlena had to. Carter’s parents knew we were as safe as could be because we have never taken the risk. Yes, there are times, like now, when we all could use a break from the “vegetables” of our lives, this covid. Perhaps we already have and it hasn’t come back to bite us. We might not be so lucky the next time, to our pain and perhaps to those we love.