Getting Away

Ann Bailey and I escaped to a small reunion of sorts at the home of friends in Richmond this weekend. I don't think we've been so relaxed in weeks. Being away from the hustle and flow of the city is remarkably curative to one's psyche.

What was so relaxing? Seeing friends that I haven't seen in a while is always nice, and they have a lovely home with a terrific deck looking out into their wooded lot. The guys went and hit golf balls at the driving range for a bit, the girls got pedicures, we all played board games, we sipped drinks and ate too much.

The key thing, though, was the conversation. We talked about the things that I imagine Real People talk about in their lives outside of the Washington Beltway - their dogs and homes, the hapless lovelife of mutual friends, our golf game and its deficiencies. We had one serious discussion - on whether true grilling was done over coals or gas.

We skirted politics, because no one cared, and we weren't required to pretend like we cared. Life, for a day, was about the moment, about being together, not about defending our hallowed political ground or being politically correct.

Maybe I'm just become jaded to life in Washington. This weekend was a good reminder that, if that's the case, there's a cure out there.