Days off are never consistent in the news industry.
Events often appear out of nowhere, cluttering up a weekend that looked completely open a few seconds ago.
Realizing that we had a busy weekend and an open Thursday a couple of weeks ago, I suggested to Wyndi that we take it off for pumpkins.
As a certified gourd addict, Wyndi has been sharing pics of Dallas Arboretum’s pumpkin festival since it was announced in September.
The condition made to both of us was that we stay off of phones as much as possible except for taking pictures.
My phone offers no less than six ways for people to get ahold of me- phone calls, text, Facebook messenger and three separate email accounts, personal and professional.
I’ve had many comment on how annoying the phone can be if my ringer is on, and I may have been know to throw it across the room when it wouldn’t shut up on a press day... maybe.
For those who haven’t been to the arboretum, the huge garden offers a nice backdrop to talk, picnic or stroll with a large variety of plants.
The special exhibit includes thousands of pumpkins in large displays. (This year, it is a story book village with the walls of the houses and ‘castles’ made out of pumpkins.
I realized quickly that the arboretum holds a special significance for Wyndi and she has made many trips in the past.
I especially enjoyed getting to see her favorite spots, the poetry garden (a courtyards withbrightly-coloredmosaics) and a spot we dubbed the fairy grotto. This spot includes benches by a small ditch in complete shade. It is easy to miss with 99.7% of visitors walking by the opening to get there.
While sitting there, a dragon fly kept landing nearby and close enough that I was able to take a detailed shot with my phone.
That was one of the few times I got on it that day. Wyndi and I also went to eat and hit up a couple of stores. We also decided at the last minute to catch a movie when we saw the blocked entrance to I-20.
I’ve had may great trips that were extravagantly planned, but there is something to be said for turning your phone off and exploring with someone you care about.
—Paul Gaudette is the managing editor of the Dublin Citizen. He can be reached at publisher@dublincitizen.com.