I took last Friday afternoon off. All 5 hours of it.!

Big deal, you say.

Actually, it is for me. Not only am I aware of the demands of being “self employed”, but for the longest time I've been considered one of those “old timers”. You know the kind…all work ethic and guilty conscience. Well, that may be something of an exaggeration, but I think you know what I mean!

So what prompted this abhorrent behaviour, you ask…as well you might.

The Amanda of old would have laid the blame firmly at the feet of a client friend. This Amanda gives him full credit - both for the inspiration and the wisdom.

I have to say, I didn't start out thinking that way. You see, he and I were talking about his impending two week vacation.

"Two weeks! How would this work-inspired individual manage?," I asked myself. "Yes," said he, "I'm picking up my mother-in-law tonight and taking her with us."

"It's simple," he said. "She and my wife enjoy their time together, and I get to go fishing." (It was all beginning to make sense. This guy had obviously thought things through. But why would I expect anything less? After all, he does that at work - so why not at home!)

It was the mention of hookless fishing lines that caught me by surprise. “Heaven forbid that I should catch a fish,” he said. “I'd have to do something with it and, that would cut into my hours of peace and quiet when nothing's allowed to disturb the fish!” I had to chuckle.

And that's exactly what I found myself doing on Friday afternoon. Chuckling with glee at the sheer audacity of stealing away in full view of all and sundry. Marveling at the wonders of whispy clouds skimming the skies and little legged beasties escaping the searing sun. Blowing the head off a late edition dandelion and skimming stones across a pond in the local provincial park. Ah, the simple things in life.

"So, are we having fun yet?" demands the frenzied bellow of a nearby camp director, instantaneously shattering the peace, bringing everyone - and everything - "back to reality".

"Yeah, right!" the Amanda of old might have responded.

"Too right!", claims this Amanda.

Such sweet pleasures, all just waiting there, ready for the taking!.

He did. I did. Will you?