As I return to this space after a few weeks of vacation, I thought I’d start by sharing 5 things I learned:
1. Everyone eats tacos differently.
We had a “taco night” with the extended family. We started with beef, lettuce, tomatoes, and 20 avocados worth of guacamole. But then my sister Brooks brought quinoa and black beans. Elly added pepitas. Our family contributed roasted sweet potatoes, which we consider the KEY to a good taco.
2. There are different types of rest.
I got beautiful one-on-one time with each of our children. I got to hold my baby niece and watch William spin his cousins in circles. But I didn’t read that much. I never took that hike or did yoga. Family vacation brings its own joy, but I also look forward to time away by myself and alone with Peter.
3. Hairspray
The show Hairspray (which we saw at The Shubert in New Haven) is super fun and our kids loved it, but it disparages people with disabilities. There’s mockery of kids in “special ed” and “spastics” that left me a little queasy. (Penny thought I was overly sensitive to this, by the way, and gloried in the post-show photo with the guy who played Link.)
4. My family thinks I’m a communist.
I only begrudgingly agreed to play Monopoly, at which point they questioned my commitment to capitalism, and I conceded that I have lots of concerns about our free-market economy. I went on to land on Community Chest and Chance so frequently that I only owned one property but accumulated $3,000. I did eventually lose to William, but it was close.
5. Marilee eats raw hot dogs for breakfast.
Here’s how that exchange went:
“You had an uncooked hot dog for breakfast!?!” I said with alarm.
She looked at me as if I had completely misunderstood the situation. “With a bun,” she said.
Oh. Right. That makes me feel so much better about your health and well-being.
I hope you had or are having or will have an equally quirky and funny and delightful time with your people this summer too!
More with Amy Julia:
- 3 Things I Learned on Family Vacation
- AJB Recommends: The Best of What I Read, Watched, and Listened To on Vacation
- Vacation Recipe: Gazpacho
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