Staycation becomes a gift
A wonderful thing happened a few weeks back. Our yearly family vacation to the beach in North Carolina
was canceled.
Oh, don’t get me wrong. We were devastated when we had to make that decision. We have been doing this yearly mecca to the Outer Banks for over 30 years. It is a tradition that was started in 1986 by my dad, who found this little-known vacation destination called Nags Head. Since then, we have only missed one year, due to circumstances beyond our control.
We were all set for this year. The house was reserved, all my children and their husbands and families were all set to go. Those of us who are working requested vacation time, and we made our plans to all be together. Then came COVID. Our plans for vacation went down the drain.
Once the initial disappointment at the realization of our situation wore off, we promptly began to create a Plan B. There is always a Plan B. And, as we were about to discover, sometimes the Plan B is better than the Plan A.
It seems that COVID has made many of us create Plan Bs. And Plan Cs. And Plan Ds. COVID has indeed changed many things. But not all change is for the worse. Sometimes those alternate plans are a blessing. A gift. This is the case of our vacation that wasn’t.
Though the location of my family vacation may have changed, the fun and the laughs have not. We have converged at the house of one of my children, with a nice-sized yard and a beautiful pool.
My out-of-state daughter and her family were able to come visit, after what seemed like an eternity of quarantine. My local children and I all took vacation time from work, and we congregate daily around the pool. My six grandchildren are all together, and we are surrounded by the sound of children’s laughter.
We’re playing games, we’re all contributing to meals, we’re swimming, we’re all talking and sharing and catching up. COVID may have sidelined us for a bit but it didn’t defeat us. It even did us a bit of a favor. None of us wants to go out shopping or out to eat or to the movies … we have become homebodies, all together, and are appreciating each other’s company.
The gift of spending time together as a family is something that should never be underestimated. There is no beach in the world that could take the place of the joy this week has given me. I am grateful for this amazing opportunity to enjoy vacation with my family without having to go anywhere. Staycation. I have to say, I have become a fan.
Though we did not make it to the Outer Banks this year, and while we do hope to return there next year (the reservation is already made!), I am delighted to enjoy my vacation days in Pennsylvania, to savor the time spent with my husband, my mom and all my children and grandchildren.
In just a few days, we have celebrated all the holidays we have missed due to COVID — all birthdays, anniversaries, even some Easter traditions!
Every day on this staycation is a gift. Every minute spent with loved ones is a blessing. After spending months in quarantine, this is the best of all possible worlds.
None of us knows what lies ahead, and the reality is we could end up once again isolated from family. All I know is, I appreciate each hour, each minute, each smile and each hug of family members.
Remember that it is not the location but rather the people that make vacation the best it can be. There is nothing like time spent with those close to you to remind you of what is truly important. So thanks, COVID, for the gift.