It’s close to 9:00am and Ken just left the house. Yay! I love him, but… Yay!

This is his first time heading off to the Elks Lodge Veterans Donuts and Coffee get-together. It happens on the fourth Monday of the month, and I’ve been nudging him to go for a while now. Somehow, he always “forgets”… or maybe he just didn’t want to go. Either way, off he went this morning, and honestly, it feels like a small victory.

Not because I don’t adore him—I do—but because sometimes we just need a little space. A little breathing room. A chance to miss each other… even if it’s just for a couple of hours.

And now?

It’s quiet.

The kind of quiet that wraps around you like a soft blanket. The kind that clears your head and slows your thoughts. You can’t really explain it—you just feel it. And right now… I’m feeling it. Ahhhhh.

The front door is open, and I can see my tiny but cozy patio. Beyond that, the curved road stretches out with not a soul in sight. No walkers, no bikes, no chatter. But I know it won’t stay that way for long—someone will wander by eventually.

Living in a 55+ community has its rhythms. This time of year, many of our seasonal neighbors—our “snowbirds”—have packed up and headed back home. Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Montana, the Dakotas, even Canada. They come here to escape the brutal winters, and when they leave, something shifts.

It gets quieter.

Slower.

Like we’ve gotten our little piece of the world back again. And I don’t mean that in a bad way—it’s just… different. Peaceful in its own way.

So, what have I been doing with my glorious alone time?

Well, I started the morning with my protein drink and a little coloring. Yes, coloring! There’s something so calming about it. The simple act of choosing colors, staying inside the lines (or not!), letting your mind wander. It’s my kind of therapy.

While I was coloring, I tried to think of what I’d write today. A few ideas floated in and out, but nothing really stuck.

So here I am… rambling.

And honestly? That’s okay too.

Later tonight, we’ll be heading back to the Elks Lodge for our usual Friday night—dinner, drinks, music, and familiar faces. I’ve been a member for 22 years, and I’ve loved every minute of it. It’s kind of like that old TV show Cheers—everybody knows your name. And if they don’t, they definitely recognize your face.

With about 1,500 members, that’s no small feat!

There’s one funny little story that always makes me smile. There’s a woman at the Lodge whose name I just could not remember. And wouldn’t you know it—she couldn’t remember mine either! For weeks we’d greet each other with a laugh and a “Sorry, I forgot your name again!”

She kept wanting to call me Sue, and I kept wanting to call her Cricket.

Her real name?

Critter.

I mean… come on! Can you blame me?

Finally, I told her to remember me by thinking of Eydie Gormé. That did the trick. We both got a good laugh out of it, and now we’ve got it down. Some things just take a little creativity… and a sense of humor.

So yes, I’ve been rambling.

But that’s what quiet time does—it lets your thoughts wander wherever they please.

And for the rest of my alone time?

I think I’ll go back to my coloring book, sip something cold, and enjoy every peaceful second.

Because as much as I love the noise, the laughter, and the company…

I really, really love this too.

What about you?
What do you do when you find yourself home alone?

Eydie