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I’ve been thinking a lot about vacations lately because I just returned from one. And in this so-called midlife, life gets a bit more complicated, bologna sandwiches don’t hold the appeal they once did (thank goodness for that) and summer vacations sorted out after juggling all the holiday rental ideas, though wonderful, don’t come without their challenges, starting from the moment you leave to come home.
Why is it that the rich memories of vacation, days upon days of meandering through time and feeling like you don’t have to do anything that you don’t want to do and can do just about anything you feel like doing, so quickly evaporate once the plane touches down on the runway – or even before? I was determined not to let a 4-hour weather delay dare touch my vacation-zen, but face it: it’s tough to ignore the hassle that comes with gate changes. And how easy was it not to absorb at least some of the negative energy that surrounded me? Grumpy passengers, loud static announcements, confusion and impatience reigned throughout the International Terminal at San Francisco’s airport, where dining options were less-than-stellar. Again I’ll spare you the details of the rest, which includes making the mistake of taking advantage of internet 35,000 feet up in the air and checking my emails, getting home really really late and discovering a freezer that quit some time between when I first left and when I returned. (Twelve days is a long time for chicken and fish and ice cream to defrost and sit there.) Insert gagging noise. I’m grateful I could get away. I’m still remembering the bliss of being on vacation. That isn’t totally escaping my memory. But if you have a solution to easing re-entry and preserving some of those vacation-is-bliss-feelings, please feel free to share it. As for the freezer, I finally got the opportunity I needed to clean it out and get rid of the things that were sitting there since my last vacation. And that huge pile of mail that still taunts me? I’ll get to it before my next vacation, I’m sure. My friend has recently been looking at hotels in copenhagen which is really tempting me to look for another vacation already. Better sort that mail!
Irene S. Levine says
Welcome back! Must be a case of seasonal refrigeration disorder. Our fridge went on the blink a couple of weeks ago, too!
Sometimes, it helps to visualize moments from your vacation or to look t photographs!
Irene S. Levine says
Looking at the photographs you took helps extend the nice memories!