I have a great last week of summer. I have spent so much time with my besties.

He said.

Weirdly with the way vacations fell this year I ended up with a week off, a week back at work and then, another week off which started this Labour Day weekend. Not that I am complaining either—it was actually a really nice way to end summer, even though it’a still technically summer for 19 more days of summer. So the thought was as soon as work wrapped up Friday, we would head up to the trailer. But that changed midweek with Danielle coming down with Emelia’s nasty cold, and with me waking up Friday morning feeling like it had found me too. Add that the forecast called for heavy rains through the evening Friday both at home and at the trailer we decided to head up Saturday afternoon. Gave me time to get some stuff Mom needed help with Saturday morning anyway.

As soon as all that was wrapped up, we were off to the trailer with a much better weather forecast. The downside was the cold that Danielle had coming on, had really sunk its teeth in her. And aside from having some aches, pains and bad headache Friday during the day, they were gone by evening and I was feeling better. I joked with Danielle that the ‘solve‘ was Dad’s scotch. I finally opened the bottle to salute Dad, and with that dram I was fixed. Danielle can’t stand scotch and didn’t have any, which is why she is still sick (even as I type this) and I have been fine all weekend.

With Danielle spending most of the nights hack up a lung, she was in no shape to take in trail rides with me on the G2G so I did those solo. Literally within five minutes of getting here Saturday I got in my first rip. And I have been out on the trail every day since. This time of year, just ahead of the fall colours, with the slightly lower temps is exciting but also kind of sad because the ride season (up here, anyway) is closer to the end than the beginning. But it has been a great riding season on the G2G this year. And it ain’t over yet, so I will make the most of it.

With us up at the trailer, it left Emelia back at home having her last weekend of summer with her besties before school starts back up. They got their semester schedules this week so it’s getting real, real fast. So, the girls made good on getting together this last weekend of their last high school summer. Emelia mixed work and play in this weekend and by her accounts had a great weekend with Bri and Belle spending enough time at Bri’s that we’ll have send Michelle (Bri’s Mom) money for rent and groceries, lol.

Danielle & I (aside from her cold) have enjoyed the first weekend where there was zero things on our “to-do” list up here. We have probably spent eighty percent of our time relaxing by the fire pit and it has been absolute bliss. And it has been so necessary with the last seven to eight months we had. It feels like the first in a very long time that there was something to do or something coming up that we were burning the candle at both ends to be ready for or get done. It has been absolutely perfect and I can’t think of a better way to slowly start the close out to summer.

She said.

My part this week will be pretty short because as John noted I have been down and out for a week with a horrible hack. It started to hit me Monday after work and by Tuesday I was working from home because I could not stop coughing and sounded terrible. Wednesday and Thursday I worked back in the office but confined myself to my office behind closed doors as much as possible. Work right now is insanely busy to taking time off really was not an option. By Friday things had moved deep in my chest and I sounded even worse so I opted to try and work from home on Friday. My work home set up is less than ideal so I ended up back in the office in the afternoon. At the time I was feeling better but sounded horrible. By the end of Friday it was back in full force. The strange thing is that it is all a cough and in my upper chest, no runny nose just heavy and wet cough.

As we moved to the weekend John and I both opted to stay home on Friday since the weather at the trailer was less than ideal and with how busy we had both been with work we were far from ready to come up for an extended weekend. Saturday morning we got up and got on our way. We arrived to the park to enjoy all the fresh air and time up in our favourite place. I have been taking it really easy since just about anything takes me out but the fresh air and sunshine has been a perfect balance of relaxation and time together.

For Emelia we were shifting our focus to get her ready for school. She has a great balanced schedule and even knows she has friends in most classes. She is also excited that she starts the fall with a first period spare which means she can take my car to school each day. Emelia stayed home this weekend not only because she had to work most of the weekend but she and her girls wanted to spend as much time as they could together before they were back deep in school responsibilities and for Emelia sports as well. We are going to enjoy a week off the madness of cheer next week but then training really shifts gears as the teams are in full swing preparing for competition. It won’t be long before we get to see her new routines hit the floor.

John is off next week and I was able to take tomorrow off (since Emelia does not start back to school until Wednesday) so we are enjoying the trailer park pretty well to ourselves tonight. Tomorrow Emelia and the girls are off to get their nails done and pack to get ready for school and Emelia and her cheer team are wrapping things up tomorrow evening with a team bonding night. Seems like a perfect end to what has been a rollercoaster summer!