The promise of a coming spring: When you’re a caretaker for an ill family member or friend, time can be in short supply. I was visiting rehab facilities for my mother when I saw this dogwood off Laurens Street in Aiken, South Carolina, in February 2018. It was a busy day full of worry, but I was able to pull over for a few restful minutes and glory in this early spring show. Click through the gallery for ways that you can turn a little bit of time into a “vacation.”
City promenade: I had a family member take over bedside duties on a warm, sunny afternoon on March 31, 2018. I took full advantage of the respite and headed to Broad Street, the main commercial street running through downtown Augusta, Georgia, for a long walk. At left is the Lamar Building, completed in 1918. It was topped by a contemporary penthouse designed by I. M. Pei in 1975.
Canalside stroll: Water is diverted from the Savannah River at the Augusta Canal headgates at Savannah Rapids Park on April 14, 2018. I had a particularly hard week when I took this hourlong stroll — to me, it was as special as walks I’ve taken along the Seine, Thames and St. Lawrence rivers.
Augusta Riverwalk: A few weeks later, on April 20, 2018, I was able to slip away for about 30 minutes and go to the Augusta Riverwalk, which runs alongside the Savannah River downtown. When you’re spending most of your waking hours in a medical facility or at home caring for someone who is sick, these small breaks can make a big difference.
A lovely oak canopy: By May 5, 2018, we were preparing to take my mother back to her home after four months of hospitalization and rehab, and I was shopping for a new recliner for her. The oaks on South Boundary Avenue in Aiken, South Carolina, provide a natural archway and make for a lovely drive. I grew up less than an hour from here and somehow never made this incredible discovery. I pulled over long enough to snap a picture and got back to shopping.
Flowers extend into summer: Sometimes, you can take a “vacation” in your own proverbial backyard. Here, a flower blooms at Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 23, 2018. This fascinating cemetery is an easy walk from my place. I’m fortunate that I live in the center of a city with so much to see and do. I can put in a full day of work and still take out time to relax.
Finally, a “real” getaway: With my mom doing better and at-home help in place, I took three days off from work and helping back home for a real road trip. This is J. Percy Priest Lake east of downtown Nashville, Tennessee. This picture was taken from Seven Points Campground on August 11, 2018.
An upsetting phone call: Lane Motor Museum in Nashville has a large collection of vintage automobiles. Pictured is the MG TF-1954 from the Morris Garage Car Company (Britain). I was visiting the museum with a friend the same day that I went to the lake when I got a phone call that my mother had been taken to the ER. I was more than 400 miles away. On that frantic drive back, I realized I couldn’t be that far away again. Yet another redefinition of “vacation” would be in order.
Take a “trip” while you shop: Sometimes, you can take a trip while you’re doing chores. And to me, shopping is a definite chore. But I needed new shoes back on September 8, 2018. Friedman’s Shoes in downtown Atlanta has been open since 1929 and it was like a trip into the past.
Lake break: By October 14, 2018, my mother was two weeks into a particularly rough hospital stay. On this Sunday afternoon, I paid one of her at-home caretakers to come sit with her. My plan was to work, but I ended up going to Lake Strom Thurmond, which straddles the South Carolina-Georgia line. On this same day, I visited cousins I had not seen in decades. One of them came to visit my mother the next day.
Downtown lookover: A statue in downtown Aiken, South Carolina, reflects the town’s rich equestrian heritage. I explored around the downtown on November 25, 2018, for about an hour while hometown visitors sat with my mother. I think this is one of South Carolina’s nicest downtown areas.
Winter walk: I used to walk a lot. These days, I’m in my car much more. But while a friend was passing through town on January 26, 2019, we were able to take the time to visit one of my favorite spots in the Atlanta area. It’s Lake Avondale, which is in the heart of Avondale Estates, a town east of Atlanta in DeKalb County.
Do something next door: A nighttime view of Atlanta, looking toward Midtown, from the observation lounge of the Westin hotel in downtown on January 26, 2019. Talk about making use of what little time you have — the hotel is a five-minute walk for me.
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