"Vacation ALL I ever Wanted..."

This is how my week has been: I haven't been on vacation in over two years. My uncle has a condo in Pensacola Florida. I choose September 17th as my date to leave....Hurricane Ivan decides he wants to go to Florida before I get there. = DISASTER VACATION!! I have spent this week on edge basically because we didn't know if we should cancel or just go. As of today we have decided to wait a couple of weeks and try again. I actually was so disappointed last night I cried! I am trying to be a big person here and learn how to deal with this news. You plan a vacation and are all ready to go and enjoy yourself and bam nature steps in and says "Ha Ha, you will have to work two more weeks before your vacation." I know there is a reason for me not getting to go as planned. But last night those reasons were not clear!

Here is how I have come to know the American Vacation. We as Americans basically work our butts off except for two weeks out of the year. There is a tremendous amount of pressure on those two weeks to be "perfect". We want perfect weather, perfect activities, perfect meals, etc... All these ways we try to strive for the perfect vacation and then it rains all week or someone gets sick or something. Its almost enough to not even bother with vacation! I propose that vacationing requires a pre-vacation time. Two or three days off before you leave so you can actually be rested, packed and prepared to have this perfect week. I can't even imagine vacationing with children because then its not only packing for them but making sure that the activities you've planned to do while on vacation are fun and memory makers! My dad always tried to at least let me play a few rounds of miniature golf or win a $50 stuffed animal with my arcade coupons. Its those memories that you are wanting to create for your vacation. And do you really come back from vacation energized? Rearin' to go back to work that Monday after vacation can almost make you have a panic attack during vacation!

So yes I am not going on vacation next week...thanks IVAN! We'll try for the perfect vacation in two more weeks!

"Then sings my soul....."

Yesterday I went to my cousin's Eagle Scout Award Ceremony at his church. I grew up in a Presbyterian church until I was eight years old. My mom then decided that she needed a change of pace and we started going to a non-denomination church. Yesterday being back in the Presbyterian church and singing old hymns and listening to the organ play, I thought about how much I missed this element of church. My grandfather was also there yesterday and he loves to sing. He sings in his church choir and I have always loved hearing him sing hymns. Its like a little piece of heaven right here on earth. Speaking of my grandfather this is why he is by far the very best: He still wears his hair in a crew-cut style, fresh back from basic training (he was in WWII). He loves to drink wine and offers you a fresh glass whenever possible! He loved my grandmother so much, even though they had their little quarrels he always kissed her before leaving to go anywhere. He always hugs you so tight you feel like you are the safest person on earth. He is the most precious grandfather around!

I also did a lot of thinking about September 11th this weekend. I watched an HBO documentary about the whole thing and I re-lived it and was so emotional Friday night I did finally cry before falling asleep. I will try to write about it sometime this week, I think it might help me deal with what happened, if thats even ever going to be possible..