Ah, Memories.
Why am I avoiding my blog, I wonder, even though I've been home for almost three weeks?
Possibly because being home reinforces the reality of the minutia of life: laundry, dog poo, swimming lessons. And that is not something upon which I care to dwell.
I can't even begin to describe how special the two-week vacation I took with Esther, Damian, and the kids was. Time with my kids, time with my best friend, niece and nephews (plus the 50 or so friends, in-laws, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews that we saw along the way) fed my soul no end.
There was no TV.
No WiFi.
Much of the time there was no cell phone reception.
The Nintendo DS's and iPods which were brought were not used.
Totally unplugged.
Bliss!
A pristine environment, the most unsullied landscape
Heads hit pillows at the end of each day spent in God's playground and sleep came in minutes.
We laughed like maniacs with tears streaking down our faces.
At least 3,000 photographs.
At least ten times the memories.
If you know me, you know that vacations like cruises and tours are my idea of purgatory and I wouldn't be seen dead at Disneyland. I've long felt uncomfortable with the thought that we rely upon -- and pay for -- people to entertain us rather than creating our own fun times and memories. I can be as guilty of this as anyone (as Esther pointed out, five-star resorts in Mexico and Egypt do have their place).
"His Native American name is 'Walks With Smile'"
But as John Taylor Gatto says in Dumbing Us Down, (and I'm paraphrasing here), when we, as a society, are incapable of making our own fun and entertaining ourselves, we have problems.
This vacation was everything that I wish my kids' whole childhoods could be -- exploring the natural world, stretching their intellectual curiosity, strengthening family connections, finding untapped determination, discovering they are more capable than they previously believed.
Overheard: "This is the best day of my life!"
Overheard the next day: "No, this is the best day of my life."
My parents took me and my siblings to the Grand Canyon and many of the surrounding National Parks when we were teenagers but the experience meant so much more to me as a parent, rediscovering the natural world through the eyes of my children.
"We've seen a rattlesnake, deer, chipmunks, hummingbirds, a kangaroo rat, bats, elk, lizards galore, wrestling cockroaches, peregrine falcons, fairy shrimp...now I just need to see a mountain lion and my vacation will be complete!"
To recap:
Vegas
Hoover Dam
Route 66
Williams, AZ
Grand Canyon
Boating and tubing on Lake Powell
Monument Valley
Navajo reservation and monument
Arches National Park in Moab, UT
Hiking and hiking and hiking and hiking. Climbing and scrambling and hoping not to fall.
Whitewater rafting
Horse riding and Go-Karting
Shooting and shopping
Mount Timpanogoes Cave
Zion National Park
Hiking (swimming) the Narrows.
As I said, bliss.
Comments
(...until the next one of course)
Have a great summer, Hannah!
I want to be a mom like you someday. Your kids look like they are growing into the best kind of people.
Also, I'm going to New Zealand and you must come along because there's no way I can take such gorgeous photos.
Ooh, that's a lot to live up to :)
You have a great summer too David, with that gorgeous little girl of yours.
Happily! When do we leave??
:)