I just got back from vacation in my home state of California. Despite some unexpected but much needed rain the first two days, it was a near perfect trip. A big family gathering, drives along the coast, the Bach Festival in Carmel, museum and California Mission visits, great food and surprise tickets to a performance of Phantom of the Opera in Hollywood, were just some of the highlights. I’m from a family that likes to be on the go, and I was able to squeeze in a lot during a week. More than anything, it was nice to be home. California is a beautiful state, and it’s incredibly diverse, not just culturally, but also visually. There’s so much to do and see, and I’m already in the planning stages for my next visit. But for now, I have to be content with great memories of this past trip, and grateful for the chance to experience all that I did.
Vacations are a wonderful gift, no matter how short they might be. Just to have the chance to break free from the normal rhythm of our crazy lives is a blessing, one which we should be most grateful for. In a conversation with my sister, we reminisced about the many trips we took with our mom when she was alive. I have no doubt that the desire to travel, which I share with my siblings, was instilled upon us by our mother. She loved seeing new places and things, and this wanderlust took her all over the world, almost always with one or more of her children as traveling companions. We had some wonderful adventures, and even as I write these lines, several of my siblings and their families and friends are out traveling to places like Cripple Creek, Great Basin National Park, and Glacier National Park. Everyone is on separate trips, but they’re all together in spirit, looking for that next memory to share with the rest of us when they return.
How about you? Have you had the chance to get away this summer? Where did you go, who were you with, what did you see? Most importantly, are you grateful for the experience?
I know some people reading these lines might not be able to enjoy a vacation this year due to illness, finances, etc. If this sounds like you, I hope you’ll be able to at least go to a park, a museum, the beach, or the mountains, even if it’s just for a few hours. And if none of those are options, close your eyes and dream of a place you’ve always wanted to go. Enjoy the visit, and I hope you can go back again soon!
