The A La Carte

Today was one of those steady, uneventful workdays. I went out to the office, caught up with a few of my real estate clients, checked things off the list, and kept the wheels turning. Nothing flashy, nothing dramatic, just business as usual.

Which is kind of funny, because last weekend was supposed to be uneventful too. I had a free weekend penciled in (a unicorn in my world), but life had other plans. Originally I thought I’d work and clean the house and generally “catch up” on things. My adopted grandma had a stroke and she lives out of state, so my adopted parents rushed off to be with her. Cue me stepping in for dog-sitting duty. Three dogs, a cat, and plenty of chaos later, my “quiet weekend” was suddenly less quiet.

At one point, the cat decided my dog was public enemy number one. I stepped in like a good referee—and the cat redirected right onto me instead. Nothing like sporting a few new scratches to really round out the weekend vibe.

But here’s the twist: life didn’t go as planned, and somehow, I still made space for rest. I wandered through a few neighborhood garage sales, took myself offline for (almost) a whole day, and leaned into not being glued to my computer. It wasn’t the weekend I pictured, but it was still exactly what I needed.

And then comes tonight, my “wild Tuesday.” Watching the local Little League baseball team play in the World Series and bingo at the local VFW. A night that sounds almost laughable when you say it out loud, but ended up being its own kind of fun. Cheering for kids (most of whom) I don’t even know. Watching people twice my age play bingo with the intensity of a championship final. It was simple. Grounding. Refreshing in its own way.

The truth is, life’s menu doesn’t always serve what you planned. Free weekends shift, cats ambush, rest shows up in unexpected places, and sometimes the highlight of your week is a game of bingo on a Tuesday night. And honestly? That feels like real life to me.

A little work, a little rest, a little randomness—served a la carte.

xo,
Ande