"Vacation"

Last week, I took the girls to Long Island,to stay at my parents. They were excited to go. "Vacation". That's what they called it. And it was. We swam in my cousin's pool. They live across the street from my Mom and Dad's house. We got up early, and walked around town, before my parents were out of bed, and ate donuts, and went to the park. We spent the day at the beach, floating in the salt water. Molly loved the water, and thought she could swim, and swallowed so much sand and surf.

 We heard the ice cream man, and instead of saying no, I said yes, and knowing I only had just a few $20.00 dollar bills to last me until payday, we ran up the hot sand, and got snow cones and ice cream bars, and sat in the sand, laughing at Molly, make a huge mess of herself.

David stayed home to work, and came out on Saturday. We had a wedding to go to, and my parents were watching the girls. It was hard for me to leave them for the night. Especially Molly. We have never been apart for more than a few hours. I felt riddled with guilt as I drove away from my parents home, yet excited for a night alone with my husband. It has been 4 years since we have been alone together. It was the highlight of our summer. We danced and laughed and stayed up way too late.

The wedding was for David's side of the family. His Mom and Dad were there, and his sister and niece. They flew in from Arizona. We don't get to see his family often. It is always a little overwhelming. Meaning..it is a short visit, and in that time, it is concentrated time together. Numerous personalities, and opinions. People's moods, and everyone trying to all be on the same page. Throw too many cocktails in, and there you have it. Multiple dynamics happening simultaneously. A family. It is interesting to be a part of. At the same time, there are moments you want to run screaming, fleeing from the scene. I suppose most families are like this. I suspect this, because it is like this when I am with my own. And stories of friends are all similar. It is an inevitable evolution I fear.

Sitting in the waves with my girls the other day, I thought that if I could just freeze this moment forever. If I could just return to this shore line tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day, all would be OK. The bond my family has...the love between all of us, would never change. It would never fade. I know the day will come, where my three daughters get together, and roll their eyes at what their father and I say, and about how peculiar we become in our old age. It will happen.

But for now, they thought we were on "vacation". They thought I was their hero for buying ice cream and sitting in the sand with it. I saw the thrill in their eyes when they played in the pouring rain with their Grandma, and Aunt. I watched them do cannon balls, and belly flops, and felt how happy they were.

For now, they love us, and all we have to offer. And what we offer is not much. But it is wonderful.