Musings at Altitude

I had the fortunate opportunity to spend a couple of days at home this week, and on Wednesday, both my 14 year old daughter and my 20 year old son stayed in their jammies all day (for those of you who have sons, you probably realize he doesn’t own jammies – so he was in the same clothes he wore on Tuesday when he went to bed), and neither showered, though my son did at one point put on a shirt for a few minutes.  Late that day, I looked at my wife and said, “I don’t understand how they could stay in their jammies all day and not shower.”  She quickly popped back, “oh, I fully understand.”

I must admit that I have a routine, and that routine can only be violated if I go to a workout facility first thing in the morning.  My routine is simple – get up, brush my teeth, use the facilities, get a shower, get dressed, get coffee, do my Bible reading and get to work.  That pretty much defines most of my days.  When I go to the gym, I insert that between use the facilities and get a shower.  But I honestly can’t imagine me ever staying in my jammies (I don’t have jammies either, just clothes that I sleep in) all day if I’m not sick and incapable of getting out of bed.

After hearing my wife’s response, it’s obvious that I’m the odd ball here and in this case somewhat of a loner.  Evidently, she too would love the chance and probably takes the chance to totally ignore routine and stay in her jammies all day.  I guess the real question may be, how often does she do that?  She certainly doesn’t do it when I’m home, so maybe that’s a family thing only when I’m away and my wife adapts to my routine when I’m home but chills out with the kids when I’m away.

I’m constantly told that I don’t know how to relax and I don’t know how to disconnect from business.  I can’t argue with that.  But even if I did disconnect and find that magical state of relaxation, it would only come in the morning after a shower and getting dressed.  I can’t relax otherwise.  I can’t do business otherwise.  I can’t sit on the porch or the deck otherwise.  I can’t function otherwise.

It’s amazing what you learn when you stay at home for a couple of days.  I’m not sure I need to know what else they do when they want to violate routine.