This seems to be a buzz word lately. For the whole time of Mike’s illness, everybody told me to take care of myself. You can’t give from a cup that is not full.
The Claremont Inn and Winery in Stratton, CO. Picture courtesy: http://www.claremontinn.com/.
Then last year when I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I heard it even more.
I always thought that Mike really took care of himself more than anyone knew. He didn’t rely on me to do everything for him. So, I felt that I did take time for myself.
The last five months of his life it felt like we were joined at the hip though. In order for me to go to my last Core workshop and Touched By A Horse® graduation, we had to make special arrangements so he could take care of the IV nutrition himself.
Despite that, I still had time to do some things alone and he would do things alone as well.
One of my colleagues offered to do some phone coaching with me since his death. A big part of that has been self-care. What are you doing for you she says.
A dinner at the Claremont Inn and Winery. Picture courtesy: http://www.claremontinn.com/.
I’m meditating daily. I spend a little time to linger under the hot water before I get out of the shower. I sit in my whirlpool tub and listen to music. I have a glass of wine in the evening. I didn’t feel like she thought this was enough.
Over the weekend I really took some time for self-care. My sister-in-law had gotten a gift certificate for the Taste, Dine, and Stay package at the Claremont Inn and Winery in Stratton, CO. She was not going to use it, so she gave it to me.
I’ve had several friends who’ve been there, and it sounded fabulous. But it seemed frivolous to go there. And here I am with this gift.
I have a friend who I used to travel with a lot and we hadn’t seen each other in almost two years. I had suggested, when she called to tell me that she planned on coming to Mike’s funeral but would have to see if she could change an orthopedic appointment, that she keep the appointment and we get together later.
So, the opportunity had been dropped into my lap. We could meet in Stratton.
The Golden Prairie room (our room) at the Claremont Inn and Winery.
We worked it out to meet there on Friday, November 16. Two days before my birthday while John would be at camp. It was perfect except that it’s November and the weather can be highly suspect this time of year.
I managed to get away and was there shortly after check-in. She wasn’t so lucky. She hit traffic and didn’t arrive until almost dinner time.
There was wine tasting before dinner, so I went down to taste their wines. There were several nice couples there. The people who were beside me were from someplace in Colorado, but the woman had lived in Kansas. The couple next to them was from Leoti and when she said that I remembered her from Scholar’s Bowl earlier in the week. And there was a couple there from Atwood. I always enjoy tasting wine and I talked a little with one of the owners as well.
They import their grapes and other fruits that they use to make wine from all over the world. It’s been my goal to try as many Shiraz as I can, but they are rather hard to find in restaurants and local liquor stores. They had a Shiraz there. It’s my understanding that for a wine to be a Shiraz you must use the Shiraz grape grown in Australia.
We got to choose our wine to go with dinner and I choose the Shiraz. Dinner was fabulous. It started with a salad that had some little vegetables that looked like small pear tomatoes, some were red, and some were yellow. We asked what they were, and they were some little peppers.
A breakfast at the Claremont Inn and Winery. Picture courtesy: http://www.claremontinn.com/.
The main course was very tender brisket, mashed potatoes, and some brussels sprouts. I wouldn’t have known they were brussels sprouts if the server wouldn’t have told me. Mike would have been proud of me for eating them.
Then there was the chocolate mousse cake. It was divine.
They asked what time we wanted breakfast in the morning. We responded 8:00. They said they would bring coffee to our room at 7:00.
We stayed up late talking and made it to breakfast only a little late. It started off with a bowl of cantaloupe and grapes, and croissants. Then we were served quiche, raspberry bread pudding, and bacon.
Our room had a whirlpool tub and a sitting area. There was also a movie room, but we didn’t try it. They run special events like cooking weekends and murder mystery weekends.
If you need to get away for some self-care or romance, I highly recommend it. I feel I’ll be going back for one of the cooking weekends.
When Girls Just Wanna Have Fun take some time for yourself.
Onward! Look Back, Look Forward
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