Outpatientcenters
Here's My Essay: What I Did During My Weeklong Summer Vacation
Thursday, July 18, 2013
I learned the art of stickin’ around during my recent week off from work.
Usually, when I take vacation time during the summer, it’s so that my family and I can take a trip somewhere. Last year, for example, we Sullivans disappeared from Sanford for ten days and visited family and friends in North Carolina, Virginia and Philadelphia and even spent an afternoon in New York City.
In our house, that’s called a “Vaca-Shawn,” named after my tendency to plan and drag my wife and daughter along these whirlwind tours in which we see and do much and relax and catch our breath only when we get home.
During the week of the Fourth, however, I took a “Val-Cation,” named after my wife Valerie’s preference to use time off to do nothing and catch a breath after months packed with the busyness of life. She’s a second-grade teacher, so you can see where she’s coming from.
I love my family’s “Vaca-Shawns,” but you know what? The “Val-Cation” I took earlier this month is one of the most relaxing and enjoyable weeks I’ve had in years. I left Sanford a couple of times but stayed relatively close and also kept occupied, but with the simple things I enjoy most in life.
I went to the movies three times, to see “World War Z,” “The Heat” and “White House Down,” all of which I liked to varying degrees. I read two books and made it well into a third one. I even made significant progress with a project I started quite some time ago.
My family and I took my mother to George’s Diner in Meredith, New Hampshire, on a warm Saturday evening mixed with sun and rain. Mom enjoyed the trip, as Meredith is one of her favorite sports and she and Dad used to visit there often.
My family and I also went with friends to Aquaboggan in Saco, and I slipped and slid down water slides for the first time since I was a teenager. That day I rediscovered a conclusion I had drawn more than twenty years ago,
Thursday, July 18, 2013
I learned the art of stickin’ around during my recent week off from work.
Usually, when I take vacation time during the summer, it’s so that my family and I can take a trip somewhere. Last year, for example, we Sullivans disappeared from Sanford for ten days and visited family and friends in North Carolina, Virginia and Philadelphia and even spent an afternoon in New York City.
In our house, that’s called a “Vaca-Shawn,” named after my tendency to plan and drag my wife and daughter along these whirlwind tours in which we see and do much and relax and catch our breath only when we get home.
During the week of the Fourth, however, I took a “Val-Cation,” named after my wife Valerie’s preference to use time off to do nothing and catch a breath after months packed with the busyness of life. She’s a second-grade teacher, so you can see where she’s coming from.
I love my family’s “Vaca-Shawns,” but you know what? The “Val-Cation” I took earlier this month is one of the most relaxing and enjoyable weeks I’ve had in years. I left Sanford a couple of times but stayed relatively close and also kept occupied, but with the simple things I enjoy most in life.
I went to the movies three times, to see “World War Z,” “The Heat” and “White House Down,” all of which I liked to varying degrees. I read two books and made it well into a third one. I even made significant progress with a project I started quite some time ago.
My family and I took my mother to George’s Diner in Meredith, New Hampshire, on a warm Saturday evening mixed with sun and rain. Mom enjoyed the trip, as Meredith is one of her favorite sports and she and Dad used to visit there often.
My family and I also went with friends to Aquaboggan in Saco, and I slipped and slid down water slides for the first time since I was a teenager. That day I rediscovered a conclusion I had drawn more than twenty years ago,