Through the Candy Cane Forest

One of the hardest things about being unemployed (other than the obvious lack of job and salary) is all the me time.

I’m generally pretty happy with the person I’ve become and am content now to just hang out alone without plans (this one took a long time to be okay with)—but when you throw in an extra 40-something hours a week of me time, I struggle. It can get pretty lonely sometimes.

But thankfully, my family is just a short car ride away and my mom can hear in my voice when I need to just get away for a little bit, so when she asked if I wanted to come home for dinner tonight, I immediately said yes.

So through the Lincoln Tunnel and the candy cane forest, I came back to NJ for the night.

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We She made scallops, sweet potato wedges and broccoli. And Texas Toast. I have such a weird soft spot in my heart for Texas Toast, as terrible as it is for me.

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Some of the little things that are making me smile while home are all of the Halloween touches my mom has around the house.

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And their cat, Butterskotch. (The k is because cats can’t spell, obviously.) And my cousin’s baby, who we stopped to see on the way home.

What makes you smile when you visit your parents? (Or what do you do when you’re feeling lonely?)

11 comments on “Through the Candy Cane Forest

  1. Cynthia (It All Changes)

    Aw Theodora. So sorry it leaves you feeling lonely. I’m not in the exact position you are but working with only Hunni all the time I crave outside interaction. I volunteer for the meetings we have to go to…even if it’s a 3 hour drive.

    I’m available to chat during the day even if I’m not around. I’m usually on Gchat.

    Reply
  2. Liz

    I am a fellow NYC girl and I work from home (but only part time in the early mornings). I spend many hours walking around this city by myself, taking advantage of the nice weather before the winter starts. I’m married but my husband works about 100 hours a week so I spend most of my time alone. While I do have friends here I rarely plan ahead and only see them lwhen its last minute. I really need to get better about doing that. Sometimes this city full of so many millions of people can be incredibly lonely….

    Reply
  3. Kimra

    The title of this post made me think of Albi the Racist Dragon from Flight of the Conchords! (“In the marmalade forest]/Between the make believe trees/In a cottage cheese cottage/Lives Albi…”)

    I know exactly what you mean about me-time. I usually start sending really elaborate emails to friends I never see from high school and college.

    Reply
  4. Bonnie

    Hey Theodora! I’ve been reading your blog since we met at the HLS in Philly (no worries if you don’t remember me – there were SO many people to meet!)but haven’t commented…thanks for your posts though, and nice work on your surprise PR!

    I resonated with this post because although I’m not unemployed, as an in-home personal trainer who works solo and has just re-started up my business, I have LOTS of down time on my hands. Sometimes it’s great, often it’s too much. And man o man my mom can read my voice like a book when I’m lonely! But I live in Calgary, Alberta (Canada) with my husband and my parents are in San Francisco…sure wish I could just pop over and see them – it’s been since January. But I’m going “home” for my mom’s birthday on a spur-of-the-moment trip in the end of Oct – cannot wait! Glad you could enjoy the fam time. Have a great week!

    Reply
  5. Corrie Anne

    I love that. I’m so jealous. I’m unemployed right now, and I wish I was a short car ride away from my fam. I just love having my mom cook for me.Yum. Yum. YUM!!!!! And don’t you always just want your mama when you’re sick?? Totally.

    Reply
  6. Molly Ellis

    i can totally relate to the lonely feeling. I’m generally great being alone but every once and a while when it sinks in- i get a bit lonely. but it’s nothing a phone call home or trip to a friend’s house can’t cure. 🙂

    Reply
  7. Kristin

    Did you go through the sea of swirly twirly gum drops too? :p

    I know how you feel with the loneliness. I looove my me-time, but when I wasn’t working or going to school for a 6 months I got a bit stir crazy! I’m glad you got to take a trip home and I’m SO jealous that you had candy corn waiting for you.

    Have a great Monday!

    Reply
  8. lauren

    I love visiting my dad’s house. There’s just something so great about chatting around the dinner table for hours.
    I love the cat pics, my cat also knows better than to look at the camera. I guess they remember encounters with the flash.

    Reply

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