Travel plan

What are your future travel plans?

I’ll be heading back to New England.

Tomorrow

After two glorious weeks of visiting my people.

MY people…

It started with surprising my granddaughter for her seventh birthday. She was thrilled. My son and his family picked me up from the airport in the morning giving us plenty of time to catch up and wrap presents and get ready. He lives a half hour from our birthday girl’s family.

Days of celebrating, cousin sleep overs and fun, lots of fun, before my next flight, which was to Vegas. My brother is currently residing in Henderson. It was initially his idea to get me out of the CT situation for some much needed RnR.

Warm nights in the pool, good friends, good food and lots of laughs.

Up early to beat traffic, we start our mini road trip to CA

My son’s busy family pulled us into their busy So Cal life. We are up everyday at dawn watching a very tanned eleven year old surf. The waves are spectacular, the beach-home.

Staying up too late. Getting up too early. Hot coffee, laughter, and lots of catching up. Kids are picked up and dropped off. Each adventure has a story. Meals are shared, ice cream is sought out, I receive not one but two make-overs. There’s a lot of walking and talking, board games, more surfing, standing in the surf while still catching up, a beach camp fire, a beautiful sunset. After several days, a tearful goodbye.

We stop at everyone’s favorite bakery and I text my friend. My brother wants to get on the road. I don’t.

My friend is home, I get the chance to stop by and see a few of my good good friends. They wrap me into their arms and we chat for a little while.

With each interaction I feel more bouyed up. Loved. Home. My brother was right. I needed this.

Our road trip back to Henderson included a most amazing California sunset. The overly dramatic sky and desert mountain range remained deeply lavender, golden and pink, long after the giant orange sun dipped below the horizon. My brother tied to explain the science behind the seemingly extra large globe of changing light, but then, just set the music to tunes from 1972 as we crossed into Nevada.

I’m ready to go back. I will savor my last day in the dry desert heat, nonstop air conditioning and luxury. Friends and family. Good conversation. Plenty of fun.

So you see? You can go home again, even if it’s just for a quick hug and a laugh.