Jenyfer Matthews

It has recently come to my attention that some friends and acquaintances have been using me as an example of how they would like to spend their next vacation.

Let me explain. My husband and I tend to take separate vacations. It’s not something that we planned, exactly, it just sort of happened. See, he likes to take advantage of the fact that we live abroad and are in closer proximity to other parts of the world by spending his annual vacation exploring someplace new. Since that would be difficult to do with the children in tow, he usually goes on his own. I prefer to take the kids and go visit family.

Then it occurred to me that it wasn’t fair that he should have all the fun – footloose and fancy free for a month while I travel on my own with the kids hither and yon, so I decided that I should get my turn away as well. At least once a year I take a week on my own and travel someplace with my friends. It started out several years ago with a 5 day trip to Egypt and this year ended up with 10 days in Germany. It’s not totally fair time-wise, no, but a girl’s gotta take the time she can get.

And I do make the most of my time.

So, a neighbor told me recently that she tried this idea out on her husband and suggested that she would like to take a weekend away with some of her girlfriends. Her husband was not enthusiastic about the plan and she gave up the idea after getting the cold shoulder for three days. Another friend told me that it was her husband encouraging her to go away with her friends. Apparently he likes to be on his own. She also declined the suggestion.

Whether or not these couples decide that separate travels are their cup of tea is beside the point. What I find ironic is that anyone should use me as any sort of a good example.

I’m pretty well used to being used as a bad example. I’ve been accused of being a bad influence on people ever since I was in grade school. I never did anything to deserve that reputation (well, not much!) but I must just have some sort of disreputable aura. My teachers and friends’ parents were often suspicious of me. My friends’ boyfriends never trusted me either, though I never did anything to lead anyone astray.

The fact that my best friend broke it off with her boyfriend the morning after she and I went out to eat together this summer was just a coincidence, no matter what he thinks.

Honest.

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