A Weekend Away - Buffalo, NY
A few months ago Mitch asked me how I felt about going to Buffalo, NY. Sure! I’ll go pretty much anywhere and check it out. There was a conference there that he was going to go to and figured that we could just make a weekend out of it.
We booked a cute Airbnb and marked out calendars. It’s only 3 hours away but I’ve only been to Buffalo once before. That was a quick few hour trip just for the heck of it that took place a few years ago. Now I’m revisiting. The first thing I do is reach out to my friend Kayla. She lives in Buffalo (and wasn’t able to meet up last time) and we’ve been internet friends for about 11 years. Yes, 11 years!! And up until last weekend we never met in person. I make plans with her and can’t wait to turn the online friendship into a real life friendship.
We arrive on Friday night and basically just go to bed. Early to rise the next morning! I have a 6 mile run on the books for my marathon training and Mitch is heading straight to the conference. We get up and hit up a cute coffeeshop called Remedy House. Mitch got a breakfast sandwich and a coffee while I stuck with a mint and chamomile tea. I was dealing with crazy dizziness that started the day before. Anytime I laid down, moved my head from side to side or up and down I would be extremely dizzy. I was slightly concerned about being able to run but confident that I’d be able to do it, hoping that somehow the gentle herbs in the tea would help me.
I dropped Mitch off and headed Delaware Park to do my run. It was a crisp 32 degrees but the sun was peeking out on occasion and I warmed up quickly. I don’t remember the last time I ran 6 miles so this was a task of mystery. I was unsure of how fast I’d run it and how I’d feel doing it.
It went so well!! I felt really great physically and my pace was one that I was pleasantly surprised about. No dizziness either! And there is nothing quite like finishing a run. It has me so curious to get into the higher milage that is on the calendar in the coming weeks to see how that feels.
I headed back to our place, took a quick shower, and got ready to meet up with Kayla. I live in the country. I’ve lived in a rural area most of my life. Staying in a place in the city reminds me of how convenient it is. It is so nice to be able to stop back at your place really quick before heading out again. When you live in the country the drive is often too long to do that. Little luxuries of city living had me embraced me in gratitude.
Back out the door I went to meet up with Kayla. This was the strangest thing because it wasn’t strange at all. It was like we already knew each other, because we do already know each other. Just through a screen and not face to face. But this time it was just a form of hanging out in a manifested reality of the physical. So cool! We got brunch at Betty’s, went shopping, and she showed me the cutest plant store ever, Put A Plant On It. I was so in love with this shop that I took Mitch back to it later in the day so that he could check it out too.
Our time together flew by but it was so synchronistic because by the time we finished everything we talked about doing, it was time to pick Mitch up. We said our goodbyes and off I went.
I am still so blown away by the internet and social media. I know that I talk about the negative aspects of it often but in general, if used in a good way, it is such a gift. Kayla and I never would have met if it wasn’t for the internet, and we never would have maintained a long distance friendship over the years without it either. That is one of the main reasons that I keep showing up and sharing online in the ways that I do. The connections. Such a gift!
After Mitch and I checked out the plant shop we headed to dinner. We tried to go to one place where we ended up having to wait for the longest time without being acknowledged before we decided to leave. It was St. Patricks Day weekend and the place was bumping with lots of alcohol flowing. I’m wondering if they could tell that we’re not drinkers and it somehow made us less of a priority. The vibe was not one that we aligned with so when he mentioned going somewhere else I was relieved and immediately headed for the door.
We ended up at Sato which turned out to be amazing. I am such a fan of going out to eat because it almost catapults you into the present moment. Phone-free. We sat and talked about how the conference went and had some great conversation. I feel as if I can eat basically whatever I want at a restaurant with no digestive repercussions and I credit that to the very fact that typically going out to a restaurant involves good company, free time and space, and pure present. Regardless of what most health and wellness people tell you, that’s a combo that creates digestive harmony.
Other than that, we kept it pretty chill for the rest of the evening and did some grocery shopping. Since Mitch gets up at 3:30am during the week, our weekend evenings usually consist of heading to bed early too. No complaints here. I love a well-rested early morning!
Sunday we got up, made pancakes (get the Birch Benders protein mix), packed up, and headed to Niagara Falls. Neither of us have ever been there and I didn’t really have many expectations. It was nice! Something to see. I wasn’t necessarily blown away by it, but definitely glad that we experienced it. The wind was blowing and the mist from the water was coating everything in its path with ice. Water is magical.
From there we headed home for meal prepping and getting things in order for the week ahead. Overall, it was such a great time. I haven’t taken a weekend getaway like that in quite a while and it was well worth it.
Moral of the story, never underestimate the small trips. I see them as little resets and times to connect in new ways. Get out and see the world, experience new places through a lens of wonder. You never know where it will take you and what you will take away from it.
