Today’s prompt: VACATION
My Facebook scrolling (and most other social media) is full right now ….
…..of what OTHER people are doing on vacation.
Europe seems to be especially big this summer, with New York City (my favorite!) not far behind. Oh, and the beach.
Honestly I struggle with the generosity of spirit required to simply be happy for these friends (which I am) rather than be envious.
My dream trip (Valencia, Spain) seems farther and farther away as I get older and my wallet gets slimmer. I haven’t been to New York since December 2016 (I aim to go once a year). Our family doesn’t take summer weeks at St. George Island anymore.
Bluntly: I need a vacation!
(alert for whiny paragraph here) I haven’t taken a day off for something that didn’t involve a family member’s hospitalization (my mom’s lengthy illness), a death (hers, as well as my father-in-law’s) or a medical procedure for myself since April 2017 (who’s counting?!). It’s not that my free-lance employer wouldn’t give me the time off. They would. It’s a combination of the fact that we need the earnings (especially until this house gets sold) and trying to prove myself reliable to my employer. To keep all the “whines” in one paragraph, one of the challenges of freelance life is the fact that there is no paid leave.
***end of five minutes***
***puts Flamenco music on Spotify to inspire a Valencian vibe as I finish the blog…***
Until my vacation materializes, I’m going to keep enjoying my friends’ pictures and stories, and redouble my efforts to be genuinely happy for them rather than feeling deprived (and let’s face it, at this time in our world there are much bigger problems than not having more stamps in my passport or more frozen daiquiries at the beach).
I’ll keep working, keep proving myself, keep hoping.
Maybe the next time a prompt is “vacation” or “trip,” I’ll have something more to report!
Welcome to this week’s Five Minute Friday. Our instructions, via creator Kate Motaung: “Write for five minutes on the word of the week. This is meant to be a free write, which means: no editing, no over-thinking, no worrying about perfect grammar or punctuation.” (But I can’t resist spell checking, as you can imagine.)
Wife of one, Mom of two, Friend of many. My pronouns are she/her/hers.
You need to take some time for you friend! I’m excited to head to NYC this summer. You can live vicariously through me. I’m in the 24 spot.
I do – you are right. And I already commented on your blog. I am so excited for you!
I live for vacation. But- as a freelancer that deals with chronic illness I feel you. I try to think of it this way, I never cancel a trip, I just postpone it. Something is always being planned and saved for, even if there are just a few pennies going into the jar. Start your planning for Valenica girl, dive into research and make your itinerary. You’ll get there. You don’t have to know when, just that you WILL.
What a great outlook! You’re hired as my official “reframer of dreams.” 🙂
With three kids (two in college), one income, and California costs, I feel you. Valencia sounds like a great dream to hold onto. I set a goal to go to London (my absolutely favorite city) for a big birthday and saved for 5 years, but it happened. I opened an account just for my trip savings and only asked for trip money for birthdays and the like. If I got a rebate, it went in the account. It’s doable. and it will be wonderful!
Yes – so you understand! Thanks for encouraging me not to throw in the towel on my dream!
I am so feeling THIS! Please stop by and you’ll see why (#38)
Ha ha ha Tondra yes!!! And I also clicked over to your hometown post – Gospel Skate Night sounds awesome I have to say!