Unplugged

Once a year my husband and I step off the hamster wheel of daily life and take a week-long vacation to a cabin filled with solitude and serenity. The days leading up to our departure date, however, are anything but serene. Both of us experience moments of frenzy and frazzledness as we snarl our way through vacation preparations. The question is often asked, "Is this really worth it?" It would certainly be easier to stay home, but without a shadow of a doubt I know that our mental health depends on occasionally fracturing the mundane. With that in mind, suitcases are packed, meals are planned and supplies are wrestled into the vehicle. We grimly head down the road and wait for the cloak of demands to melt away.

During the first 24-48 hours, the vacation valves slowly release the tyranny of routine demands and we settle into a luxurious calm. Here is a pictorial rendering of my top ten reasons for committing to vacations each year.

...being welcomed in beastly style.

...wicking off the day's ills with a fluffy white towel. (My household towels should have an expiration date. They are no longer fluffy and white is too dangerous.)

...reading, glorious reading.

...nestling into a comfy reading chair.

...nodding off for a mid-afternoon nap, or mid-morning, or both.

...sipping freshly ground coffee, many cups.

...acquiescing to new trails.

...making new friends.

...relinquishing cell phone service. (My personal favorite.)

...greeting a full moon, veranda style.

I hope you are able to spend a few days vacationing this summer. Rest assured, your mental health will send you a postcard thanking you for it.