Even grown-ups need a timeout sometimes. A few weeks ago I was feeling extremely overwhelmed. You know the kind of overwhelmed where your head hurts and it’s difficult to breath? Yeah. That kind of overwhelmed. My emotions were on overdrive and my thoughts were on an endless loop. When I’m feeling like that, which isn’t often, driving helps to calm me down. I wish I could blame my natural instinct to flee on my gypsy soul, but there’s a greater likelihood its due to my fight or flight defenses kicked into overdrive. On that particular Sunday I drove away with no particular destination in mind. Anywhere would suffice.
After more than an hour of allowing myself to (literally) get lost, I happened upon a long stretch of road lined with towering trees and gigantic houses; and at the very end was a T-intersection. Left or right? Right. There it was right around the bend – the cutesy Main Street of Historic Clifton.
As I drove past the shops and people eating al fresco or walking their dogs, a peaceful feeling washed over me and I knew it was time to head back home. I promised myself I’d return with Jay and Reesie next time.
We were enjoying a lazy Sunday at home, but knew we could all use some fresh air…and ice cream. Always ice cream. Remembering the ice cream shop I had seen the previous week, we headed to Clifton.
There were so many flavors and choice combinations on the menu! It was a scoop of “Dallen’s Dreamsicle” for me; a toasted coconut malt shake for J (and Reesie); and a to-go order of fries with Monterey jack cheese sauce. Unbeknownst to us at the time, yesterday was National Ice Cream Day!
By the time we were leaving the line had more than doubled what it was when we ordered. The fries alone would be worth waiting in line for.
The circumstances that led me to Clifton were far from pleasant, but I’d like to believe that we always end up where we were meant to be. Food for thought.
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