Chris literally had to drag me out of the house for a road trip last week. The bone-weary tiredness has been hard to shake.

It’s a well-established fact that the beach is my happy place – the sights, sounds and smells of the coast soothe my soul – and I was long overdue for a visit.  The main deterrent – my place of residence is not centrally located for easy saltwater access. 

Following a few long-distance road trips during my childhood, it became painfully apparent I’m not a good traveler.  To this day, I get restless and I’m prone to motion sickness. Any activities to pass the time like reading, even looking at a map, can make my stomach churn.

While some families played Punch Buggy (pointing out VW Beetles on the road and punching other players) and we did too, my mother preferred hide and seek. She liked to “hide” Gravol in an apple to trick me into taking the pill. She would declare herself the winner if she managed to knock me out cold.

I spotted that colored pill immediately the first time (how could I not?) yet Mom kept trying on every new adventure. Of all the games on our road trips, that was the one we played the most.

It didn’t help that Dad was a chain smoker and I, crammed into the back seat of our 2 door Chrysler sedan, sat with the windows rolled up tight. Gross, right?  But it was the 70’s.  Who didn’t smoke in those days?

Back to the future, Chris and I loaded the vehicle with snacks, extra clothing, sunblock and hats, water, and Macy the dog supplies. I grumbled, like usual, that it would be easier to stay home. The preparation always seems like work.

Our destination?  St. Martin’s.  Not to be confused with the island in the Caribbean; we can’t easily get there from here. I’m referring to a tiny NB coastal community featuring covered bridges and caves, quaint gift shops, inns and B&B’s and a few take-outs offering the freshest seafood to eat on the spot or cook later.

And of course, the main attraction, at least for me, is the beach. It was a bitterly cold day but as I breathed in the raw salty air, I was grateful to be there.

For the drive home, we chose the road less traveled – only seven minutes longer according to Google Maps – far away from the four-lane highway, through small communities, forests and clearings, rolling hills, and windy roads.  I was eager to get home by that time but it was nice to slow down. To take a minute to breathe and enjoy the scenery our picture province provides.

Can any of us say life is a straightforward path? The road is filled with unexpected bumps and turns. None of us have it easy but I’ve learned some valuable lessons along the way.

Lately, I’ve been heavily focused on closing out this chapter with burnout.  How could I not be?  This has been hard and I’m eager to put it behind me. Besides, we’ve been tasked with objectives since we were in diapers –use the potty, eat solid food, learn to walk, learn to talk and that was just the beginning.

At what point do we slow down and enjoy the scenery? Find the joy, even in the difficulties?

This week was one for the books. Perhaps the book I’m planning to write.  In any case, the blog account was suspended due to the large number of emails (newsletters) I send each week.  The email provider called it spam. 

A little blog that shares stories about life gets shut down for spamming people?  Are you kidding me? Who holds the key to the Trump social account and why aren’t they shutting him down? At least shutting him up!  The Daily Beast reported that he posted 861 times last month (an average of 27 posts per day or just over one post every hour of every day and he’s spewing hate and nonsense).

I took it in stride (mostly anyway) but the provider did get an earful. And eventually they reinstated my account thanks to Chris’s IT support.

I wonder what new adventure awaits. 

For now, I’ll sit back and enjoy the ride. Listen to my body when it tells me to rest. Relish in the little moments like walks with Chris and Macy, or another road trip to the coast.

We spend so much time rushing through life focused on the result.  Sometimes, we miss the beauty along the way.

I think I finally get it – maybe it is about the journey and not just the destination.

If you’re new here, you might wonder why I often include music. Music, poetry, books and art can express what we feel. What’s a road trip without some good tunes? What’s your favourite driving song?

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