Gay, Senior Editor

I wish every day was Mother's Day. It's one of the few days of the year I let myself be truly, deeply selfish and self-indulgent. I blew off the first part of my usual Sunday routine, attending the early half of a worship service, and went to the beach instead. I live only 20 minutes away but mostly go only when I have company from landlocked towns. But Sunday I packed up the dog, some poop bags and drinking water, put on my silly blue hat with the fuzzy flower and put on an extra jacket and off we went to Sandy Hook. It was just me, the dog and a half dozen surf fishermen. I (gasp) let her off the leash and she chased sea gulls (no animals were harmed during this walk) and their shadows (she's not especially discriminating) and logged nearly two miles on the sand. It was sooo relaxing. I'm reminded of something I know but often forget--I have to make taking care of myself a priority or it just ain't happenin'. (In the afternoon I took a nap--but no miles were logged during it.)