DH and I had a rare treat this weekend. We left the kidlets in the capable care of MIL and my aunt Debbie and we flew to Kauai for a few days. It was a Bar convention, so DH had continuing education classes to attend in the morning, which, by virtue of my license being inactive, I didn't have to attend. But for the rest of the time (and all the time for me) we had sun, sand, and glorious island scenery to take in. It doesn't take much to impress me either, a few days to hang out and be a grown up without being at the beck and call of my dear ones is a vacation for me, even when the scenery isn't glorious. This was a rare treat. The last time we went to any Hawaiian island, CW was 1 and we went to Maui and we called it our honeymoon, since we'd never really had one--getting married mid law school like we did. This trip was much shorter, with its own limitations, but in its own way quite effortless.
Meanwhile, back at home, dearly loved ward members were giving birth to a baby who would be whisked into open heart surgery to have two of his valves swapped out. Other dearly loved ward members continue their battles with troubles from RA and kidney failure to financial reversals and job losses. Mortality seemingly has no end of ways in which to test and try us. I suppose because I was sitting in a lovely hotel listening to the sounds of the ocean while checking into FB to see whether this cute newborn baby responded well to his surgery and how he has fared each day this first week of his life that the juxtaposition of things seemed in sharp relief for me. I know there are ebbs and flows to everything. I know we need the times of lightness to gather strength and energy in reserve for the times of heaviness that will come. I'm trying to see this time of lightness and embrace it for the glittering treasure it is instead of bemoan its lack when it's gone, especially when others regale me with talk of their fabulous vacations and I am stuck in the thick of thin things. I'm trying.
It was a lovely weekend.
4 comments:
So glad you had that retreat!
Yes, it is easy to forget the light when the heavy comes -- that is our challenge I guess, to have an attitude of gratitude...even when it's tough.:)(Said the very grateful single Mom for the summer who is about to lose her mind:))
I love you and I love that you had a break.
Such contrasts. Sometimes it all makes me tired. ;)
~Michelle
Picture of you and DH ...in front of Waimea Canyon? At least that I what I remember it being called when I was in Kauai. Loved that island! And right now I'm trying not to be jealous!...hee hee
I'm glad you got a much-needed getaway. I often think how odd the juxtaposition of posts on Facebook can be. One of my friends is posting bragging about going to lunch at a fancy restaurant while the next is announcing that her father just died. Another is bemoaning a baby who won't fall asleep while another is posting about the surgery her baby will need. It's hard to process all that at once sometimes.
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