I’m such a home body. It’s something that’s never been as clear to me as during this one day away from home. I missed my home terribly. I missed my dogs, my hubby and the lovely conveniences of having TV, internet and a phone.
This retreat was like entering a different time period. The entire building was massive, set in a place among 150 acres of forest with lakes and trails that were beautiful if you’re a squirrel and want to leg it.
The place was as quiet as a tomb and incredibly laberinth-like. There were stairs and twisted corridors everywhere. No matter which you took, it turned and ended up in a different area of the building. I got lost more times than I can count.
The rooms were microscopic…and filled with dead flies. The staff was just as minuscule consisting only of about 4 people. They did everything from cooking to welcoming us to telling us the rules of the place. No outside shoes. Everyone had to go around in slippers.
The food was great…except for the coffee cups. They were the size of thimbles and I just about had it. In an act of unparalleled rebellion, I seized one of their cereal bowls and used it for coffee. People stared…but I couldn’t have cared less. In the mornings, I need coffee.
We did a lot of ‘circles’ where we sat and listened to our ‘leaders’ tell us how to work better. I tried to be a good listener and appreciate what they were saying but it was hard and, with each passing hour, it got harder. By the second day, I wasn’t the only one dissociating. I counted 7 heads nodding while the last speaker rambled on.
The group leader only had to say that it was time to go before I was gone. I was the first out of the building and the first car out of the lot. I came home relishing loud music on the radio, shouting it out as I drove.
My doggies were thrilled to see me and my hubby even had flowers waiting.
It’s so nice to be home!
What have I missed? What are you guys up to?
No place like home. Your blog is interesting 🙂
Thank you so much!
Well, you survived. Although I would have hated the group circles (I would have gnawed my own leg off to escape) I would have loved being in the middle of nowhere. My perfect day is sitting on the top of a mountain away from all humanity and their associated noise. On the other hand… They made you wear their slippers?
I’m laughing over your answer…so funny (the gnawed leg bit) but they didn’t make us wear their slippers, we had to bring our own. But the circles were endless. For hours at t a time. Thanks so much for that comment, it makes me feel better to know I’m not alone!
Sounds like an… interesting time 😀 That thing about the cereal bowl had me chuckling, that’s exactly the type of thing I could do. Nothing stands between a woman and her morning caffeine!
Thank you so much for that lovely comment! I’m so glad you can understand. I got a few strange looks but my coffee in the morning is a necessity!
Just read this out to my hubby as he works for a big corporation and we were both laughing. I particularly like the’ coffee cup’ I love my coffee also. Glad you made it home in one piece.
I’m so glad you liked it! I’ll ramble on about it again tomorrow 🙂
How lovely that you had flowers waiting for you at home. It’s great to come back to our family when we’ve been away. I enjoyed the tale of your eventful work ‘retreat’. I was looking forward to reading it, so I apologise that I’m so behind at the moment 🙂
I’m terribly behind as well! No worries! Thank you for reading!
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You know, I really like the idea of drinking coffee out of a cereal bowl. What a great idea! 🙂
It was when I saw those teeeny tiny cups!
LOL, I’m imagining it as a scene from Gulliver’s Travels with the tiny coffee cups! 🙂
LOL!