“Every person needs to take one day away. A day in which one consciously separates the past from the future. Jobs, family, employers, and friends can exist one day without any one of us, and if our egos permit us to confess, they could exist eternally in our absence. Each person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for. Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us.”
― Maya Angelou, Wouldn’t Take Nothing for My Journey Now
Ahhhh….there’s no place like home.
Michael and I returned yesterday after being away for a little over a week. It was wonderful to get away but prompts the question–do you still call it a vacation when you’re retired?
Whatever you call it, I strongly believe you DO need to escape the everyday even though you are no longer on someone’s official time clock. I’m thinking–maybe you need that escape even more.
We stocked and packed the RV, loaded up the dogs, and hit the road for Port Aransas, Texas. For many years, this little town has been one of our favorite places. This year, I think we were both rather apprehensive about what we would find.
Hurricane Harvey had been relentless. We’d seen the pictures and heard the stories from our friends who visited ahead of us. We were about to see for ourselves.
Once we arrived, the reconstruction we saw was impressive while the sounds of continued work could be heard from early morning until well past dusk. The flags proclaiming this community was “Port A Strong” were flying high. I was humbled daily by the strength and resilience I saw in the people I met. Food is always a focal point of any vacation. This trip was no exception. Getting to have my usual great lunch at Irie’s capped off my week.
Getting to the beach is always our number one priority. What a sight we must be! It’s hard to tell who’s the most excited–the three dogs–all racing full speed towards the sand or the two of us, jostling beach gear, flip flops, and tangled leashes. It made me smile.
This year there was a new addition to the horizon as I looked across the dunes. Standing at the peak of one of the highest dunes was a single cross.
What an impressive symbol of gratitude as well as a reminder it was not only physical structures taking a beating from Harvey–the spirits of the Gulf did as well–and those spirits stood strong.
Just like this cross.
I am…
B…simply being…
May God bless and protect you, Port Aransas, and the entire Gulf as another hurricane season begins in just a few weeks.
~Peace~
B...simply being... 