Driving the Getaway Car

A Mother's Retreat

Early in the summer, an invitation popped up in my inbox for a “Mother’s Retreat.” Talk about instant good vibes. Motherhood is praised, but not often given space to be considered. The restorative weekend retreat would take place about a 2.5-hour drive from New York City. The extra bonus? The event invite was addressed to ten women, some of whom are treasured friends, who also happen to be moms, and volunteer their time with the One Love Community Fridge, an organization that works to connect and empower through access to fresh, healthy food. I cleared the schedule for a weekend, and true to the spirit of my work life mish-mash, I began to consider the perfect car to drive for this getaway set in the Oley Valley, Pennsylvania farm country.

I landed on a Genesis GV60 – a smooth serene compact sport electric vehicle that I wanted to spend time in over the summer. It’s a low-key fancy vehicle that would complement what women want when they get away — to feel good in their surroundings. Beyond booking the car, I didn’t start planning until the cal reminder popped up. The Friday morning I was due to leave, I finally opened the email, picked up the Genesis from the parking garage, threw some things in a bag, and I was out. As I crossed the bridge, I realized I had no idea where I was going or who would host me— not my usual approach to travel. There was a certain freedom in the unknown.

The miles wound by as the stress of the hustle bustle lifted and I began to exhale as we headed west. Whatever was ahead, I was going to roll with it, no agenda. I stopped to charge the car in a rural Pennsylvania parking lot, where three other EVs owners waited, arms crossed. In rural communities, public EV charging is an exercise in civility. The lack of guidance from Electrify America services forces strangers to interact with one another as they negotiate the order of how to form a line. After 15 minutes, it was my turn to plug in, and after another half-hour I was back on the road, and good to go for the rest of the trip. The ride was smooth and comfy.

I arrived at Bloom Farm late in the afternoon. I entered the charming farmhouse where I soon met our host Jenn Tardiff, founder of 3rd Ritual. Delicious cheeses, a cozy couch, and the getting-back-to-nature vibes beckoned. Bloom Farm and 3rd Ritual are in the early stages of hosting retreats among the chestnut trees. Cabins are being built along the 60-acre property. We enjoyed meals made by local chefs who prepared foods from the garden and locally sourced from the Oley Valley. We spent time in the wellness studio for yoga and later for a tender women’s circle. We wandered in the woods and communed with the Alpacas. We wore breezy gear gifted by Haven. Mostly, we talked and talked.

For mothers, friendships tend to become tied up in their children’s life stages, but even those groups ebb and flow as kids grow and change and draw their own circles. The conversation among my friends these days is that we don’t see enough of one another. It was a weekend for old friends to enjoy each other’s company and where seeds of new friendships were planted. I’ll leave most of the experience out of this story – the whole point of a retreating is taking space that is private and deeply personal.

The weekend wrapped as the group gathered to pack produce for the One Love fridges that would travel back to Brooklyn. What I can say that captures the vibe goes back to a moment in the car. I drove four women into town one morning in the Genesis. They raved over the sumptuous quality of the white leather seats, the roomy backseat, but most of all delighted over the crystal sphere that illuminates whether set in drive, or stationery in park, in a moment of stillness. Laughter filled the space. My takeaway: Sometimes we need to duck out with our friends, for a little reminder of all we are and all that we can be.