From http://steinermp.wordpress.com/

It's time. Time for life to return to routine. Which, by the way, I love. I thrive on routine. Vacations are nice for awhile, but sooner or later, my brain begs for routine. I want to go to bed at 9:30 p.m. and get up at 5:30 a.m. I want to hit the road running by 6 a.m. I want to get to work by 8:15 a.m. Okay, that was a lie. 8:30 a.m.

In the midst of this reflection, daughter #1, reading the New York Times, innocently (or perhaps not so innocently) comments that "Here's an article on 'How to train the aging mind'". I rest my case. Routine is necessary for my aging mind. And yes, at 53, it is aging...ever so slowly but oh so obviously.

But it's not only my mind that aches for routine. The body that used to be able to handle random breaks in routine, doesn't do it so well anymore. Well, it never really handled random bouts of non-routine, so it only stands to reason that it pretty much falls apart at the seams these days.

I notice all my Facebook friends moaning and groaning about the return to work. I'm almost afraid to admit that I'm actually looking forward to seeing my office again. I can imagine the dislike buttons flashing red if I state my true status..."is happy to return to work." I'm even ready to see my Goldmine calendar again -- the electronic system that glues the pieces of my job together. No more wondering what to do next because there on my calendar will be names of people to call, minutiae to complete.

I'll admit there will be moments when I'll wish I could just stay home all day because...wait for it...I HATE TO TAKE SHOWERS. It's the real reason I look forward to weekends. I can run, sweat, cool down, and not shower until I darn well please. Eventually, I have to take one because a.) it's bedtime and there is nothing worse than going to bed smelling of a day's sweat, or b.) we have to go out in the world where cleanliness matters.

So...as my kids would say, "routine rules". And a return to it is as welcome as the sun on a 10-degree day. Which, by the way, describes today. So as I approach that return to the routine of normal, everyday non-vacation life, I will now take my back-to-routine midday walk. In the cold. Three layers of clothing. Which, after all, is simply a part of the routine in these parts in January.