I was out walking the other day when my phone rang. I got so excited when I saw who it was.

“Hi!” I said, squealing. “I’m so happy you called!”

On the other end of the line was a good friend who said they were calling to check in on me. We exchanged all the typical questions—what’s up, how are you, how’s your summer going—and then came the real reason for the call: “I just had to get away from my house for awhile,” they said. “It’s packed with my kids, their kids, their spouses and partners, and all their stuff. Babies are crying and dogs are barking. It’s a lot!”