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Vacation.  Oh the sights,

the sounds…

the laundry. 

This morning I tried to dislodge Galveston’s sand from our clothes before packing, praying that the EPA won’t be alerted about the obvious beach erosion problems caused by the Weems’ departure from the island.  I was also checking for hermit crabs— but that’s another story.

I was talking to my daughter Cora Jo about our vacation coming to an end, asking her about her favorite things about Texas. The Schlitterbahn, Children’s Museum of Houston, and hermit crabs on the beach in Galveston had her top votes.

“We’re going back to Virginia?” she asked, a faraway look in her eyes.  It was as if I had mentioned a distant place she had only read about.

“Yes, our vacation is almost over,” I replied.

“Momma, this isn’t vacation,” she stated flatly. 

“What is it then?” I asked.

“This is visiting family.”   

“Oh, what is vacation then?”

“Vacation is when you relax, Momma.  Like in Hawaii!” she exclaimed.

How right can the girl be? 

“Tell Daddy, ok?” I whisper in conspiratorial tones. 

Traveling together is always an undertaking, especially with four kids.  Throw in our fourteen-year-old lab (who needs a doggy RAMP to get in and out of the car, for pete’s sake) and then add my parents, my sister, her husband, and their two-month-old baby, and we have a first class traveling show (In all fairness, most of the drama is supplied by my kids…Baby Ryan is only in training- see photo at right). On our last night here together in Galveston, I am deliriously happy to have been together, and I begin to miss them all terribly before I can even hug their necks goodbye.

What I couldn’t explain adequately to Cora Jo this morning was how relaxing it is for me to be with our family. This trip, we visited the Weems, Larkins, Drosts, and Lentzes(as well as our friends the Craigs), and they all have the gift of hospitality. They opened their homes, pools, and arms. They made us feel welcome. I laughed until my sides hurt. We felt at home, which is a precious gift indeed to a military family, especially one as rowdy as ours. Perhaps we can all meet in Hawaii next year?

P.S. Virginia, be warned… we are enroute (and we’ve missed you!)