After a most fabulous week of vacation with friends and then a less-than-ideal week after getting back, I have some feelings and thoughts.
Be the friend who spontaneously picks up a bubble wand for your visiting friend just because you know how much she loves bubbles.
Be the husband who buys his wife the giant pinwheel because she got so excited when she saw it in the store.
Do the touristy things. Do the non-touristy things. Eat local food, especially if it is home cooked! Seek out and go to small local places while on vacation! Try the mussels and the lobster rolls even if you think you don’t care for them. Forget your camera sometimes and know you will remember those crabs in your mind forever even without the photos.
Play cornhole (or Baggo, whatever) at dusk in the campground, mosquitos be damned. The itch will fade your memories will stay. Maybe drop a few less F bombs for the kids in the next space over though.
Tell people you love them. Cherish your moments with everyone, do not take time for granted. Share recipes, jokes and pictures. Love.
Reach out to those who might need you. Be willing to ask if you need someone. Be vulnerable. Be honest with yourself first, that is actually even more important than being honest with others.
Keep the inside jokes rolling. There is nothing better than your own language with those you love and have fun with.
Stand up for justice and what is right in the world, but do not let the fight consume you. Know there must be joy and grace and fun as well, otherwise what is the point? Stay informed, but also stay entertained.
Read for fun. Share books. Garden if you like it. Or sew, or paint, or cook…do what brings you joy, especially if you can also get joy from sharing it with others!
And most important of all. Do not bring shells home from vacation, just leave them on the beach. They will stink a week later and you will just have to throw them out anyway (trust me, I tried to clean them).
Cassandra Complex 