Happy Friday, snippeteers ... I returned last night from a refreshing and perfect 5 days at the Jersey shore visiting my sweet "co-mom-in-law" Jane (my son's mom-in-law; I am her daughter's mom-in-law). It was a last-minute escape into jumping waves, Mexican Dominoes, browsing shops, riding bikes, floating on tubes, tomato sandwiches, happy hours, farmer's market, laughing and cooking together, chatting like hens until we got on her husband's nerves, and binge-watching a new chick-Netflix series.
And although I could have stayed longer (no 11 a.m. checkout time at a friend's house!), it was time to not outstay my welcome and return to my pup, my Hubs, and my Amazon Prime deliveries. Stuff to do ... columns to write ... bills to pay ... flowers to water ... email to process ... no good time can last forever.
Today upon awakening I felt that "day-after let-down," ... you know the one I mean? When you miss your friend while sipping coffee ... when you wish you were still a few blocks from the beach ... when you want to continue playing and relaxing ... when you don't know what day it is ... and when you left the laptop at home so you didn't have to work. Comparatively - unpacking, laundry, and scooping puppy poo-poo is no blast.
Ahhh, but alas, life is not a permanent vacation (says the girl who is always packing her pink suitcase). If we were on perpetual vacation, what would we anticipate besides an empty bank account?
Why do we feel let down after we've had a marvelous time? Isn't it better to "have loved and lost than never to have loved at all?" We feel a tad blue the day after a family wedding, the morning after a really great house party (hopefully that's all you feel!), the day after a girlfriends' getaway ... good fun, good company, and good activities usually at a pretty location. The upbeat vibe-of-it-all provided a mini escape from piles of paperwork, scheduling A/C maintenance, going to the dentist, or sitting in on another boring Zoom meeting. The mundane tidbits of life and work simply aren't as exciting for us,
sì
?
That's probably why we immediately contemplate "the next time." That's a good thing! There is
always
a next time.
So, plan that next weekend getaway, camping trip, girlfriend outing, family gathering, or vacation. And if it's too soon, then "escape" in other ways: read a great book, watch a funny movie or interesting documentary, step into nature, jump in a pool, light candles, shop online, make a craft, write a story, or travel anywhere your heart desires using Google Earth ... whatever floats your boat, flips your wig, and helps you to unravel a bit of stress.
Because the beach is always where we left it ... fun times are always around the corner ... laughter is always available ... and summer always returns. There is always a "next time."
