Vacations are good for the soul

A few weekends ago I flew down to the Reno/Tahoe area to visit a close friend who'd recently had a baby.  It was the first time I'd been away from Kiku for more than 24 hours, and it was the first trip I'd taken by myself in six years.  SIX YEARS!!! 

It was hard to leave my family at the airport curb, especially with Kiku bawling her eyes out (although partially due to the fact that she wanted to run around in the airport).  But as I walked through the automatic doors and wheeled my suitcase up to the ticket counter, I felt the strangest sensation.  It was like my arms had been held down by weights for the last few years and suddenly they were free.  I felt light.  After checking in, I strolled over to the security gate and leisurely removed my shoes and belt, popped my gallon-sized ziploc bag of liquid filled bottles into a bin, and walked through the metal detector without a care in the world.  It was so easy, and so unlike the usual mad dash through security with toddler, stroller, and car seat in tow.  Then it was time to check out the magazines in the gift shop, grab a bagel and some coffee, and wait for my flight to board. It was all very peaceful.

Once the plane left the ground, I pulled out my book and started reading.  Then I did some knitting.  All uninterupted.  At first I kept thinking about how odd it felt to have so much free time to myself, but eventually I just eased in and enjoyed it.  I appreciated every minute of that flight.

The entire weekend felt so...lush.  Spending real quality time with my friend, holding her newborn, taking walks by the lake, hanging out at Squaw (notice I didn't say "skiing" - we just dropped off her husband "lucky guy" and went and got coffee at the Starbucks in the village - but it was still awesome to be so close to the slopes, which brought back lots of memories from my former life).  I was able to let my guard down, relax, and feel like myself again.

It's been a week and a half since I got back and I feel rejeuvenated.  The trip helped me break out of the rut I'd been stuck in all winter.  I've been exercising a lot, getting plenty of sleep, eating better, feeling more patient with Kiku and enjoying my family more...and I've been a lot more positive. Now every day of my life feels lush.  There's nothing like a good vacation to get some perspective.