The best medicine...

This weekend was really all I could have asked for - the best medicine I could have asked for. The ride up on Friday stunk - 4 hours in the car. We stopped about half way for dinner and to stretch our legs. The kids were nuts by the time we pulled in but they were so good in the car = it was only natural to need to let off some energy. Rob did a preliminary bat check and we were good. It was the first weekend all summer we did not need to have the air conditioning on and were able to have windows open. It started to rain heavily just a bit after we got there - I was thankful we had a dry ride.
Saturday was WINDY and chilly. Dean arrived not too soon after we had breakfast. We decided to get out of the house because it wasn't going to be a beach day. We hit Farm and Fleet for some vinegar. Target to see if beach chairs were on clearance - no luck. We decided it was a perfect day to go apple picking at Jollay - and it was the best. We all had a great time - Nick went a little nuts picking and didn't understand why he had to gently place the apples in the basket instead of throwing them in. We picked just over 20 pounds of apples - after all, an apple a day keeps the doctor away - I wish! We went back to the cottage and had lunch. Dean watches the kids so Rob and I could run into town and hit Mendards, Walmart and Dollar Tree (got some new books for the next couple weeks). We had a nice early bbq dinner and Ellie helped me make an appetizer table (one of her requests for the weekend).
The most talked about subject of the last couple months came to fruition on Saturday night - Camp Rock 2 - The Final Jam was on Disney channel. Ellie has seriously been looking forward to this for months. We made it an event - we got the "picnic" blanket out and made popcorn and had special movie theatre candy - even Uncle Dean watched it. Nick fell asleep in my lap - he didn't make it all the way through Camp Rock 2. We all were pooped out - I even went up to bed early.
Sunday we tried a new restaurant for brunch and were so delighted in our choice - they had a buffet brunch and there was truly something for everyone - even crepes. My girlfriend, Julie and I had plans to meet up for the day. Julie and I have been friends since 6th grade - although the majority of the year she lives too far away from me - in the summer we both have weekend houses just over an hour away from each other. We usually we half way at a restaurant but Julie was nice and came to visit me at our place. We took a walk down to the beach and visited for a long time listening to the waves crash on the beach and enjoying the day. We eventually made out way into town for some retail therapy - some of the shops had things we just couldn't pass up. It was awesome to reminisce, talk and laugh - and the best thing was she took Rob up on his offer to stay for dinner.
Simply the best time - and what we all learned from the day was that 3 little words can be all you need to say for so many situations - wow that sucks. You can also just say wow - but the that sucks can be added when needed. Julie did eventually travel home - I understand not wanting to be in Michigan gravel roads in the dark. We all drove into town for the last ice cream indulgence on the summer.
Today was clean up day - the last day at the cottage and we needed to put everything away and un-plug everything. I did laundry and did the beds, Rob and Dean did the big moving and cleaning. We had planned on one more trip to the beach but the sky turned dark and it began to rain. We ended up having lunch and starting our journey home. I really thought we would have another 4 hour ride but despite 2 separate car accidents we made it home in under 3 hours. The kids played for a bit outside and then we ventured over to Mom and Dad's for dinner. We had a nice dinner together - the kids sharing their favorite parts of the weekend. We came home and have the stink-bots their bath - the water was black. Rob did bedtime and I am relaxing on the couch.
The best part of the weekend was not thinking about Friday. I have an acupuncture appointment tomorrow and have to go to the lab for a test they forgot about but other than that a medical free week. Visualising my healthy body, speedy recovery, being cancer free and the new normal me - whatever that shall be, Tree