Have you heard about this incredible retreat for curious and creative women that’s one year away?.  It seems to like a long way away, but in 365 days, we'll be gathering in the historic Kilkea Castle in Ireland. 

Will you be with us?

Our friends at Old Sod Travel have designed a luxurious yet, down to earth trip. This is the kind of trip where you'll have nothing to worry about because you'll be transported back in time to a 12-century castle, restored to modern charm and convenience.

• You'll be fed healthy and delicious meals.

• You'll have time to connect with other women or find a quiet space indoors or out where you can reflect and do as you please.

• You'll be able to participate in activities on the grounds that range from spa visits to hikes to historic walks.

• You'll be able to participate in group coaching, art workshops, yoga, and mindfulness sessions.

• And oh yes, you'll get to enjoy authentic Irish music and pub life.

You'll get to pick and choose what you want to do for five whole days in a most bucolic and pristine setting. 

Summer is unofficially, officially begun here where I live. Yes, it’s not even Memorial Day. But this is Commissioning Week at the US Naval Academy, and along with 9000 family and friends who come to town to watch these midshipmen graduate and receive their military commissions, we all play hooky on Tuesday and/or Wednesday to watch the Blue Angels. THIS is the start of summer.

It’s the transition to summer, really, as we all do our best to stay invested in school in the final weeks, wrap up sports schedules and attend concerts, celebrations, and performances. We’re half in for summer and half in to finish the year strong. Which sort of feels like double dipping, multiplying items on our to-do list (do I need three graduation cards this weekend or four?) and chugging along to the next mile marker.

Do you ever chug along to get to the next stop and then get distracted, wondering, “What on earth am I doing?”

We plan, and we do, and we give. We’re usually moving at such a rapid clip that we can’t find the space to consider what we are doing, let alone what we want to be doing.

I know what I need and desire to be doing each week, I make it a point to plan to get most of these things scheduled, arranged, and completed. I know it’s really an “ideal” and that keeping it all in balance is a fallacy. It’s utter crap that any of us achieve a perfect balance.

Forget March Madness, we’re onto May Madness. 

It seems every parent I bump into or read their social media post has their heads, calendars, and lives full!  In the classroom, spring has sprung, kids have grown, testing is likely underway, and there is so much to do both to wrap up this year and begin setting up a solid start to the new year.  On top of all that, there are spring sports and dance recitals, end of the year showcases, concert, first communions, graduations. 

In Annapolis, we see all sorts of new-is young adults around town in civilian clothes. These are the soon-to-be USNA graduates and Navy Ensigns, who are evicted from the dorm and have a wee bit of time and freedom to act like regular old 22-year-olds until Commissioning Week begins on May 19th.  The underclass men and women breath a little sigh of relief but soon move off to summer blocks at sea, in trainings, or possibly even getting to go home and be a civlian for a short period of time. Commissioning Week is the blessed and unoffial start of summer here.