Day 4 - 226 -- Joy of Spontaneity

Another hot sunny day but with cooling breezes along the water. I drove out to the next town over to do some shopping -- a few items not available in the smaller town I live in. The drive along the old highway that is closer to the shoreline, was delightful. The views were wonderful with the drier clear air today. On the way back I stopped at a place I've driven by for 19 years and always said I'd stop one day. Today was that day. It is a cairn to commemorate three survivors of the battle of Culloden (1746), who moved here during the clearances after losing that battle -- the second Jacobite rebellion. Stones used in the construction in the of the cairn in the 1930s included stones from the battlefield. It is a 7 minute walk through a trail in the woods that ends at the shoreline. It is a simple memorial, but powerful. Each year on April 17, a memorial service is held at 11 AM -- the time the battle started in Scotland centuries ago.  After this visit, I stopped at a roadside trailer that serves fresh caught and hand battered fish (haddock) and chips. It has been many years since I had eaten this food, so guilt wasn't part of the meal. <smile>  It was very good and worth the once-a-decade splurge <smile>.

Heading out for the drive and various activities felt freeing. The spontaneity was empowering. I enjoyed the day, though being on the backside of a migraine, there was major fatigue by the time I got home -- though, not enough to detract from the fun of the day. Why is it that we seem to do less of this type of afternoon? Why does being an adult bring with it a lack of spontaneity? When was play squelched out of us as something frivolous and selfish? My five hour trip was not a huge chunk of time, certainly not one that would mean shirking one's responsibilities to others. Self-care -- that responsibility to self -- can improve productivity for all the other 'have to dos'. Learning to do fun things more often and without guilt may be a big challenge, but it will be worthwhile.

A song from Nova Scotia is shared here today. The music sounds like my day <smile>. The lyrics definitely address that feeling of freedom that came with the afternoon. The singers are siblings from Cape Breton. enjoy!

Haven't Got a Care -- The Barra MacNeils