Hammock

My father-in-law recently gifted me one of the best presents I have ever gotten. A hammock. I have always wanted one, and I followed my husband around like a kid on Christmas morning the night he brought it home, waiting for him to set it up.

It is large — wider than a twin size bed for sure, defiantly room for two grown-ups. It is fabric, so I don't have to worry about getting lines on my skin from ropes. It even has a pillow attached.

We put it in the perfect place, out in the yard under a large, beautiful tree. The weather was wonderful, the kids were in bed. It was just me and my hammock. I thought I would be in heaven.

But within about a minute or so of resting in my long awaited haven, I was thinking about how difficult it would be to work on a laptop out here. Chastising myself for thinking of working in a relaxation device, I tried to get comfortable just sitting out there. Nope, I couldn't do it. Before long I had my phone out, checking my email and messages.

Annoyed that I couldn't get anything done out there, I gave up and went inside.

After enduring some good-natured ribbing at the office when describing my tale, I tried again. This time, I left my electronic devices inside. I printed off a writing project I am working on, got my red pen, a blanket, and a pair of sunglasses and spent one of the most relaxing and productive mornings I can remember.

Lying in my hammock in the dappled sunshine, a blanket over my lap to cut down the chill of a spring breeze, my son joined me and read quietly beside me while I edited my writing project.

I wasn't completely able to relax into a do nothing state of mind, but combining a task with the relaxation of a sunshine filled hammock and with better company than I could ask for, I spent one of the best mornings of my year.