Taking a break from the Hamster Wheel of Life

Doesn't the routine we fall into sometimes feel like a hamster wheel? Think about it. We go through life doing things that feel like fun, look like fun, but don' t really step out of the routine. Imagine thelittle furry rodents, running happily on those cute, bright red or orange wheels. Have I lost you?

I got off my little hamster wheel of life tonight to enjoy the last night of the Summer Concerts in the Plaza. It was hotter than...well, suffice it to say...dang hot!!! I slipped out of the house after having stoked the fire in our wood burning oven and started my second batch of San Marzano/Roma tomatoes roasting. I drove down to the square, set out my blanket and set up my folding couch, then ran back home to put in yet another batch of tomatoes.

I made it back to the square only to find it packed! I settled in to our camping couch with the newest edition of Gourmet magazine and my iced tea. Ah...I just felt the day and feelings of responsibility fall away. The crowd was in a very celebratory mood, seeing it was the last day of the concerts and all, and just happy.

Our friends joined me (Farmer Jeff was slaving at work) and the delight of the day increased 3 fold. I was not only joined by R, but by her 3 darling little girls, one of whom was flower girl at our wedding. It was so much fun to watch their unguarded enthusiasm and sheer joy of the music, the people and of dancing! The littlest one, I swear, looks like a baby from the twenties. She has a classic poster child look of a baby from that era and is forever laughing. People all around our area were snapping pics of her.

Their papa joined us after his long day at work and just let out a big sigh. He said, "you know, this is the first time we have been here all summer. We have just gotten caught up in our daily life and routine". This is when I whipped out my saying. "You, dear friend", I said, "have been caught up on the hamster wheel of life. Take a break with the rest of us and relax". He sat back in his chair with his cold beverage of choice and relaxed with his family. His girls climbed all over him, he nibbled on the array of snacky items we had pooled together and we just chatted. Sometimes we could hear what the other person said, other times not. It really didn't matter. We just nodded our heads contentedly to the music, smiling.

The band played until dark, at which time we all gathered our belongings and wandered back to our own lives, our own little hamster wheels, humming the bluesy melodies from the band on the plaza.