Some of you readers might remember from my Staycation post that I’m not a fan of staying home for summer vacation, so now I’ve embarked on quite the opposite, an 18 day marathon trip.  I’ll do my best to bring you along if you’re interested.  My posts will likely be more personal in nature over the next three weeks so that’s what you’re in for if you’re planning to play along.

After 12 hours of mostly uneventful flights (something I’m extremely grateful for given I was traveling with my 3 ½ year old daughter, tired husband and 2 impending hurricanes), I stepped out of the Syracuse airport last night around 9:30 to what seemed like 200% humidity.  Although I grew up in the midwest, lived in the southeast and have traveled around the US with my previous jobs for years, I had forgotten what crazy humidity feels like.  I do NOT like to be hot unless there is water around to jump into.  Anyway, hoisting luggage into the back of the jeep, I’m drenched in sweat and my daughter starts to to cry that she’s ready to go in the house….NOW.  This continues for the rest of the two hour drive to our destination.  You know how fun that is.

Alas, we arrive and we get out of the car at Grandma’s house, the weather has changed and there is an incredible, cool breaze blowing.  Her house could be on the front of a Currier and Ives post card as it sits on a hilltop surrounded by tall, billowy trees that welcome you with their swaying branches saying “Hello and Nice to Have You”.  Thousands of singing crickets set the background.  I look up and there are SO MANY STARS.  There is certainly something to be said for rural, middle America where there are no city lights because the view of the stars is JUST amazing.  It takes only a few minutes to see a shooting star.  I walk around on the property savoring the moment knowing that I’m right where I’m supposed to be.  I can hear the sound of my daughter’s voice inside chasing a kitten around the house.  Staycation??  No thanks, not for me.  My Joy Barometers just won’t go for that.