I had finally found a daily rhythm of morning pages, photography, writing, and blogging, all balanced between dog care and house care and working out and sleeping and Breaking Bad and pastoral council duties and trying to spread the news about our upcoming high school reunion and hanging out with my hubby and helping my kids and filling out job applications.
And then... kids moved home. We went on vacation. A cow showed up in our "back yard".
I haven't even tried to get back into a rhythm or routine yet, just keep bouncing wildly from one activity/project to another in my own pinball machine world until I finally run out of steam around midnight, feeling like I haven't accomplished much of anything.
But I remember that what I love about life are the surprises and detours and diversions, like kids and vacations and cows.
So when my dear friend Tamara emailed that she would be in town this week and how about meeting for lunch at the Oasis, of course I said yes.
I can be smart that way.
Spending time with friends is one of my favorite diversions.
Years ago, the Oasis was just a restaurant perched on a hill overlooking Lake Travis. It had an outdoor area with a dance floor. I watched Rotel and the Hot Tomatoes perform there once.
Then it burned down.
This was my first visit back since it was rebuilt and HOLY COW! it's not just a restaurant with a dance floor anymore. It's a little village, filled with restaurants and unique art and gift shops and photography galleries and wine bars. We were there almost 5 hours, talking and browsing the shops after we finished eating.
We pretty much had the place to ourselves, which I liked, but I bet it's a hoppin' place at night! I'm ready to find out!