Vacation

We were on vacation last week. Well, I was. Dave ended up working every day, even being at a ground-breaking ceremony in town with President Obama. How's that for working? Anyway, since being back at work, I've been asked repeatedly about my vacation and how had it been. It was a strange vacation for me -- I had no motivation to do anything. One day, I seriously went no further than from my 1973 motorhome (next year to maybe be sporting flowers on the sides), to the camground bathroom and to my sister-in-law's trailer. What? That's all the further I went for an entire day? Yep, it was. What? I didn't go to the beach and swim in Lake Michigan when the water temperature was 75? No, I did not. I didn't move. So I wondered if I had wasted the time. Did I? I don't think so, but I wonder why I feel the need to justify myself? So, I'll justify myself in this way.

I sat quietly for a week and listened to that cardinal sing at the top of his lungs day and night -- and sometimes swoop into my vision to see if I had left any morsels lying around. I heard families laughing together over board games being played. I heard fire snapping in the fire pit. I tasted the gooeyness of marshmallows and chocolate and graham crackers. I ate wonderful pancakes and french toast and tacos and hobo pies. I felt the quiet still breezes blow past me on a rare occasion, like a breath of fresh air or the spirit of the Lord. I woke up to the smell of coffee and shared that over long conversations with nieces and nephews (their dad's coffee was too weak -- they knew where the good stuff was). I never had to wait for a shower and the water was hot. The sleep was good and restful. I spent time with one great-niece who wanted to learn to knit -- and so I got her started and watched the excitement of knitting and her beginnings of learning the relaxing aspect of the craft. The hugs from the little great-nephews who have now learned who I am and call me "Aunt Sally" or in Dave's case "Uncle Fluffy". The stress was gone and I could just be -- reading a good book or knitting or napping. Being with family in the outdoors.

I guess I've learned that a vacation doesn't have to be "doing" and I shouldn't feel like I need to justify just "being". Because "being" is how I spent my vacation and it was glorious!