So, this was our big weekend away, a weekend that I have been waiting for for what feels like FOREVER. It's not that I don't love being at home, or hate where we live, but you know how it is, sometimes you just have to get away. I just needed to get out, go see something, do something fun that isn't the same old same old. So, Friday we went to DC, hit up the Zoo and a Nat's game.
I'd been to the Zoo before, but I hadn't been since my sister was a baby, so maybe 10 or so years ago. Of course, the tigers are my favorite, but they decided to hide in their little cave so I could barely see them. Oh well... we still got out there, got some sun, some exercise, and just spent time together. Of course, I am an idiot and forgot to bring tennis shoes, so my new flip flops pretty much rubbed the bottom of my feet raw and made my "weird leg" hurt like hell, and the bad knee swell like a grapefruit. But I still did it, the walk to and from the metro, and the zoo, and the walk to and from the hotel, with minimal sitting breaks to give my poor feet a break! (Note to self: don't be an idiot and only bring flip flops on trips where you'll be walking for forever!!)
The Nat's game was great, they played awesome and we had amazing seats, less than 20 rows from the front, just past third base. It was my first professional baseball game, and I loved the stadium and the energy of the crowd. It was so strange though, the stadium was over half empty when the game started. It seemed to take forever for people to show up and fill it, what's the point if you're not going to see the whole game? This picture was taken about 15 minutes before the game started! We were impressed at how well Cubs fans traveled, there were tons there, and of course, since we were on their side, it was quite entertaining. One guy (a Nats fan) was actually keeping score/stats in a little book thing he had made for that. Justin said that some people do it FOR FUN. I don't get that at all, I don't like doing it when I have to once a week at his games, I seriously don't understand how that could be someone's HOBBY.
Baltimore was ok, our hotel was a little strange, and the front desk staff kind of acted like they were deigning to help us (um, hello, it's your JOB) but our view was amazing, and it was just steps away from the Harbor. We hit the Aquarium after a DELICIOUS lunch of grilled cheese at the coolest Hooters that I've ever been to, and were sadly disappointed with it. They're doing a remodel or switching exhibits around, because the shark tunnel and huge coral reef/ray area that you walk over are both GONE (at least we couldn't find them), and tons of other areas were blocked off, and they didn't tell us that before we went in. It wasn't really worth the $30 a ticket that we spent, but oh well. I still liked what we did see, they have an Australia exhibit where birds fly around close enough to touch you, and we had a good time together.
After the aquarium we went back to the room to relax and wait out the storms that were coming. Our room, with the amazing view, let us watch as the storm swept over the harbor, and it was absolutely stunning. I've always loved watching storms, but it was really beautiful. The storms lasted a few hours, and then the sun came out and brought with it one of the biggest, prettiest rainbows that I've ever seen. I just stood at the window and stared at it for what felt like forever, until we left for dinner at the Hardrock Cafe. The storms had taken the humidity out of the air and left it a few degrees cooler, and it was really lovely walking along the harbor to and from dinner. It turned into a really nice night. We made it back into our room two short minutes before the sky opened up again and the storms rolled in from the opposite direction as they came from before.
Standing at the window looking at the rainbow, though, I had gotten to thinking: Sometimes life is crazy. Sometimes you feel like the only thing that can make you feel better is to run away from it, from the things that are going wrong, or the things that stress you out. Sometimes it's just easiest, and easiest is usually the thing that people want. But you can't always run. You can't always hide. Sometimes, even though things get rough, and it looks like that storm in life that is coming is scary, or hard, or unfair, all you have to do is wait it out, and have faith that it will pass. And it WILL pass. You might have to work your ass off for the better outcome, and it might be a hard road, but when the storm is over and the sun finally comes out, that big, beautiful rainbow will be there to greet you and show you that the wait was worth it.
I had a wonderful time with my husband, it was nice to be away with him for a few days, just the two of us, with no (or at least, minimal) work things breaking in, no obligations, just us. But I'm glad that my rainbow reminded me that I can't just run away. When things get rough, I can't run away to another location, or shut myself down and just not deal with them because I'm overwhelmed. I have to meet things head on because that's the only way I'll get to see my own rainbow. Stress will still be there. I'll still get overwhelmed. But I'll meet it head on, and get to see the sun again.
I know that my husband, and friends, family, and my two fur children will be there for me, and with me. I know my two best friends will come and battle their OCD to help me organize my life, and my little grey girl Sasha will come and give me copious, sweet, aggressive snuggles because she missed me while I was gone and loves me.
If my storms come with those things attached to them, they won't be so hard to weather after all; and the rainbows will be even sweeter when they can be shared.
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