Tag: vacation

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Lifestyle

Going Home – It Was A Wonderful Visit

Going home

Going Home

Going Home

In The Anthropocene Revealed, John Green spoke about going home.

He says it’s not a place.

It’s a moment.

Perhaps a scent.

Maybe a song.

Possibly just a memory.

Isn’t that the truth?

I visited my hometown last week.

I smelled the briny scent of the ocean.

I felt the warm sun on my shoulders.

I listened to the mesmerizing crash of the waves.

And I played KRTH 101 all week.

The more things change, I noticed, the more they stay the same.

People still flock to the beach with snacks, and sand toys, and boogie boards.

Kids still build sand castles, and dig holes, and fly kites.

And seagulls are still thieves.

There’s always that one kid who throws a scrap of food for the birds.

Resulting in a zillion gulls swarming the beach, fighting over that crumb, and stalking everyone else’s snacks.

And there’s always, always, always that one guy with a metal detector, hoping to score some treasure.

I’ve never seen treasure actually scored, which means that maybe it’s still out there, waiting to be discovered.

I saw lots of friends and family.

I watched The Barbie Movie.

And I had many interesting discussions, leaving me with lots of things to think about.

Is going home possible?

Yup.

I did it.

It was wonderful.

Liz Brenner

Everyone has a story to tell.

Even you.

Especially you.

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Categories
Family Lifestyle

The Greatest Road Closure Ever

Road Closure

Road Closure

We wanted to drive down the Million Dollar Highway.

The starting point is in the tiny town of Ouray, Colorado.

We arrived just after 8:00 am.

Unfortunately, access to the highway was closed from 8:00 to noon for work on the power lines.

We had a couple of hours to kill.

Ouray has hot springs we could have soaked in.

But they weren’t open to the public that early in the morning.

They also have ATVs to rent to explore the countryside.

But they also weren’t available that early in the morning.

We decided to go for a hike.

There’s a river and a waterfall, and you can hike to the top of the canyon to look down on it.

Off we went.

At the very, very, very top, there’s a bridge that you can walk on to cross the gorge.

It’s metal with an open weave so that you can see the view while you cross.

“We don’t have to do this,” Bob said kindly.

He knows I’m afraid of heights.

“I didn’t climb all the way up here to not cross that bridge,” I said, “I’m doing it.”

Setting my eyes on a spot on the other side, I plowed forward, refusing to look out or down.

I made it!

Bob laughed and said that now I have to go back.

Again, I set my eyes on a spot on the other side and plowed forward, refusing to look out or down.

I’m not sure, but I think I may have died of fright just a little bit.

A few other hikers had approached the bridge by that time.

“Don’t mind me,” I said to them, slightly crazed with fear, “I’m terrified of heights.”

They all cheered because I did it anyway.

I now have some new best friends.

It was the greatest road closure ever.

Categories
Lifestyle

I’m Home

I’m home from my vacation.

Oh, I needed that break.

I (almost) completely unplugged.

I did very little social media or email or texting.

I still used my electronics, of course.

I read three ebooks and listened to two audiobooks.

I visited family and friends and spent time in my hometown at the beach.

Then we road-tripped back from California through Arizona, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and finally home to Texas.

More stories about the trip will follow.

Right now, I need to go wash all of the bug death off of my car.

Categories
Family Lifestyle

A Dangerous Game of Jenga

A dangerous game

A Dangerous Game

Am I the only one who cleans the house before I go on a trip?

My kids think I’m nuts.

But I know that I will be tired and most likely cranky when I come home.

I will want clean bathrooms and clean sheets.

And food stocked up so I won’t have to rush off to the grocery store.

I warned the Grown Sons that I expect the house to be clean when I get home.

Last time I went away they did a pretty good job.

Except for the dish drainer.

They had washed their dishes, but they didn’t put anything away.

They were each terrified that they might accidentally put away their brother’s things.

God forbid.

It was a dangerous game of Jenga that they were playing.

One more spoon might have resulted in disaster.

I got home just in the nick of time.

I may insist on some Facetime calls with the dish drainer while I’m gone.

Just to be on the safe side.

Categories
Family Lifestyle

Too Much Work

Too Much Work

Too Much Work

Vacation preparations are underway.

The Grown Sons will be house sitting.

I have given instructions on the sprinklers, trash day, and bringing in the mail.

They are outraged.

This is too much to ask.

Considering that they work.

Who has time for all of this?

I laughed and laughed and laughed.

And laughed some more.

And continued preparing food to leave in the freezer for them to eat in my absence.

Too much work indeed.