Posted by Anne

Around Friday of last week, I got a call from my Dad.  He and Mom are visiting my new state, but doing plenty of their own sightseeing before

You don't have to be a golfer to appreciate this...

 finally making their way to our house for some scheduled family bonding.  So I was surprised when he casually asked, “Hey! Your Mom and I have a tee time for Sunday around 10:30—do you think you could make the drive and meet us for a round of golf?”  Hmmmm…

Here it was—an opportunity to spend the day with my parents, who live halfway across the country.  And they weren’t just “playing golf”…they were playing Bandon Dunes, one of the best Scottish-style ocean courses in the nation.  Sounds like a no-brainer, right?  Ah, but not for me.  You see…I had other plans.  I was going to use Sunday to get all organized for their visit that was supposed to happen the following week.  That makes sense, right? (Don’t answer that.) 

I had two options:  1) Life in Pencil (aka golf with the folks), or 2) Life According to My Penned-in Sunday to-do-list.  Congratulations to me, because I chose the former.  Here is the Sunday I would have had, and the Sunday I had. 

Sunday Option #1:  Staying Put, aka “Life in Pen”

• Would have slept til 7:00.  Would have felt great.
• Would have had my coffee from a mug instead of a travel cup. 
• Would have had time to do enough laundry so that my parents’ towels matched perfectly when they arrived.
• Would have probably lost a few brain cells watching something worthless on TV. 
• Would have worked out at the gym.
• Would have made the house immaculate and made fresh salsa.
  

  Take it from me...you don't want to end up in that whispy, romantic-looking grass.

• Would have thought about my parents all day long.

Sunday Option #2:  Hitting the Links, aka “Life in Pencil”

• Got up at 5:30 am.  Got significantly less sleep than I wanted.
• Found out that when you get moving at 5:30, the hills are more beautiful, the road less crowded, and the mist still clings to the trees.
• Discovered a Scottish folk music station on my XM radio!  Truly ready for Scottish golf now that I’ve heard the word “maiden” a dozen times in a morning.
• Hugged my Dad about 12 times.
• Hugged my Mom about 12 times.
• Enjoyed the cool wind so much it made me oblivious to the fact that I scored a 9 on the first hole.
• Watched a deer creep up behind us on the 3^rd green.
• Sat in the grass, felt the sand, and stared at the ocean.
• Spent too long trying to guess the life story of our caddy, and wondering why his teeth were crooked in front.
• Made par on the last hole.  Squeaked and jumped for joy without the least bit of self-consciousness. 
• Celebrated with a gin and tonic and a creamy oyster stew.  
• Saw some elk on the way home.
• Got a sunburn.
• Smiled all day long.
• Made my parents’ day.

I never got around to those matching towels, but I’m happy with my choice.  My hope for you is to have a weekend you never expected.  And especially one you didn’t plan.

Feelin' pretty darn happy. (I'm in the fairway...)