Scott’s Part

This was the second time we went to one of the tiny cabins about two hours away from us. The first time we went was to celebrate our anniversary, the second time was to just get away. I did not understand the power of “getting away” until M demonstrated it to me. If I have “gotten away,” then I really cannot respond to the alarm company at work telling me something tripped the alarm. (By the way, special shout out to Jessica W. for handling that for me; couldn’t do that job without you homie.)

We use words like “getting away,” and “escape,” and “break out,” and “please put a file in the birthday cake you bring me” because sometimes, our lives can feel like prisons. I mean, they don’t feel like that all the time. And I’ve never been in prison, so I can’t say this with any authority or real insight. But you know what I mean: the monotony and the routine and the responsibilities can begin to feel like a time-loop. SSDD. Getting away is so simple and restorative, it’s such an easy way to recharge. You have to break the pattern up to see what the pattern consists of.

We couldn’t have a fire this time because there’s a fire-ban. We were sitting in front of the cold pit outside and I laughed to myself because I remember the last time we where there. It was dead-middle summer, and the wet-bulb temperature could have killed a man, and Marybeth was like, “I require a fire or this isn’t even a vacation.” Put it like this: I was already dripping sweat into the pit before we got the fire going. Cooking hot dogs on the fire pit was one of the major items on the itinerary. So we put some tinfoil on the pit, used the fire-starter that came with the cabin, and eventually got the thing going in a blaze. I was drenched in sweat. Marybeth doesn’t sweat, so I don’t think she can regulate her internal temperature the same way I do and I remember her in her baseball cap, tank top, and yoga pants, her face preternaturally red, saying “this is a very nice fire.” And I was sitting on the pick-nick bench beside the cabin, sweat pouring off me like a melting ice statue, and thinking to myself: “this is what Hephaestus’s forge must feel like.” (Marybeth revealed to me in this trip that after I went inside, she continued backing the Adirondack back until she was up against the main road).

We went on a hike in Homochitto National Forrest. I saw this mysterious concrete platform in the lake:

And I immediately thought of a BOTW shrine puzzle.

We had a great time. The two nights we were there, we cozied up in the bed after dinner and watched a movie on my iPad. We had a conversation about living in a tiny cabin out in the woods. M reasoned that we’re too much city-dwellers at this point, and escaping to the country is only an escape because it’s not the norm. She’s definitely right, but I know in both our hearts, we long to live in a Hobbit Hole.

Marybeth’s Part

We had a lovely weekend at our Getaway cabin. By the way Getaway is not just an act in this case but also the brand. Instagram ads got me on this one and it actually paid off. As Scott mentioned, we first came to Getaway in Meadville for our 1st wedding anniversary and we immediately fell in love. It’s a two hour scenic drive from where we live and the actual cabins are far enough in the woods to feel scenic and peaceful but not too far from civilization that you feel completely isolated (cuz I’ve seen a horror movie too many to actually stay in an isolated cabin in the woods ya know?)

Have you ever tried to be better at journaling and used writing prompts like “Describe your perfect day.” But you have ADHD and can’t focus for long enough to even think of any pleasant things you have ever done in your life. Well this is why I’m writing this down because this past Saturday was what I would call a perfect day. We woke up to sunlight peaking through the trees of the huge window by the bed. My favorite part of these cabins is the view outside. You can be in nature but also be inside! We slowly got up and made breakfast. Then made our way outside to drink coffee among the trees and read our books. The weather was cool enough to need a sweater and a welcome contrast to the heat of summer we are still experiencing into October.

We made a picnic lunch and headed to Homochitto National Forest. The GPS initially took us to the most random place and definitely not the entrance to the park but we eventually found it thanks to passing up the signs to the entrance on the way to the GPS nonexistent entrance. We were greeted by a beautiful lake and variety of trees. After eating our lunch we decided to try a hiking trail that goes around the lake. It was a mile of winding and mysterious turns so you never knew quite what to expect. We got multiple different viewpoints of the lake. After our walk we took a rest by the lake before heading back to our cabin.

On the way back to the cabin we passed by a Dollar General Market which we had never seen before and had to stop by because Scott is a “Dollar Store Connoisseur.” He found some fun afternoon snacks to eat after our hike. After gorging ourselves we took a well earned nap. The rest of the evening was spent cooking dinner and watching a movie on the iPad. It’s one of those days you look back on and wouldn’t change a single thing. I will store these memories in my brain to remember when days get hard and stressful. I can always go back to this perfect day in the woods with my husband and my dog.

Sherlock’s Part

THERE WERE SO MANY SMELLS OMG I COULD NOT STOP SMELLING ALL THE GRASSES AND CRITTERLY HINTS. Mom smuggled into my face a lot and gave me plenty of kisses and dad took me for walks and picked me up when we walked over gappy ground. AND THERE WERE LITTLE HOOMANS WHO WERE SO HAPPY TO SEE ME AND I WAS HAPPY TO SEE THEM AND WE RAN AROUND EACH OTHER AND SUCH. I also took a bunch of naps. I tried to plan these when mom and dad are not doing anything but its okay i can get up when they do.