and all at once i am on vacation

Phoenix captured my heart before we even cleared the security ramp.
The sight of an old biplane hovering beneath a stained glass sky had my mind juggling for the camera I knew was buried too deep.  My feet danced at the sight of bedazzled sombreros behind the locked doors of the gift shop and continued to skip all the way down to baggage claim.  I longed to see the city beyond the dark of night but instead satisfied my eyes with the glittering lights.

I finally gave up all efforts to sleep around 5am.  Five o'clock plus three hours is longer than this body was designed to rest, and if it hadn't been for one of the most comfortable beds ever, I might not have even lasted that long.  Though not fully rested I was anxious to get out... and with daylight sneaking in through the drapes I knew the day was beginning without me. 

Blue sky, real grass, and touches of the real west.  I am already in love and it is only 8am. 
I still wear Africa around my neck, and am still in love as ever.  But I have always wanted to see this country.  My country.  And here I am.

on the way

I look out into the great wide sky and there are clouds forever.  The sun glints just below the wing and I happen to notice it is shining on the ripples of the Gulf far, far, far below us.  It is beautiful... and a thousand words spring to mind.  For a moment, I enjoy the journey, but mostly I just want to be there already.  It feels greedy and ugly, and just a little desperate, but honest nonetheless.  And so I leave the camera stashed in the bag and refuse to document the blink of beauty. 

It feels... ridiculous. 
By the time we really arrive it will be half-way to morning and the ones I want to wrap my arms around will be fast asleep.  But oh, the big adventure will be that much closer. 

So here we sit... waiting for the next long flight.
I order an ice cream and the coconutty creaminess starts seeping in and reeling the vacation feelings just a bit closer.  Ah yes, I believe there is magic in ice cream.  Gradually I can fall into it... the beauty of vacation.  Whether I am here or there, or somewhere in between.  I want to enjoy the journey.  I want to grasp it and love it and laugh along with it. 

I'm trying...

happy birthday beautiful america...

The American flag does not fly because the wind moves past it. The American flag flies from the last breath of each military member who has died protecting it. American soldiers don't fight because they hate what's in front of them...they fight because they love what's behind them. 

-quote found through a friend who prays for her soldier every day.

low key

She drives, I drive.

I drop her at the barn, we work, and I return to pick her up.

The boys are away at camp, but it is not really a week of play. 

We still find fun though... chatting, laughing, watching tv, cooking together. 

The rain has kept us from our only real plan of the week... a sunset picnic at the beach. 

But there is still tonight, still a chance. 

It would be just the way to close this beautiful, busy, low key week.

And if the rain pours down?

More tea... and another hand of Bananagrams.