A few weeks ago, I took a much-needed vacation. This means, other than the three articles I publish on my site every week, I didn’t write a word anywhere. I can safely say I enjoyed every moment, and I would love if I could do it all over again.
Instead of packing my bags and leaving this pleasant town I call home, my wife and I decided to stay local and host my mother-in-law for two weeks. Wow! What a great time that was. I don’t care what anyone says about mother-in-laws, mine is as cool as they come.
She’s eighty years old. When I suggested we all go watch Jurassic World in 3D, she jumped at the idea. She hadn’t seen a 3D movie since the Fifties where red and blue lenses made up the 3D glasses.
Her verdict? She loved the effects and the heart-pounding action sequences.
Okay, let me repeat what I said earlier—eighty years old, folks.
She also didn’t show any fear when I asked if she’d like to eat hot sauce on her food. She went all out and enjoyed it. In fact, you know what she said to me? She said, “I don’t know if it’s because I’m used to it, but the sauce is weak.” The hot sauce is the suicide chicken wing sauce I use to drown my meats in while I cook.
Apart from my mom-in-law visiting, I had a lot of time to spend with the family and hanging with friends. My kids had their yearend recitals at the performing arts studio they attended during the 2014-2015 season. Both came home with awards. My older one brought back the Most Improved Speech Arts & Drama Performer and my younger one took home the Most Outstanding Overall Performer playing Matthew Cuthbert in Anne of Green Gables. I kid you not folks, the audience was in tears for his portrayal of the beloved patriarch.
The other part of my vacation involved food—lots of it. We went to our favorite sushi restaurant gorging on all the succulent all-you-can-eat dishes we could consume. The joy of this restaurant is having the ability to eat what we want and sharing the dishes among each other. It’s great. My mom-in-law didn’t wince once. She had salmon sushi even after saying the thought of eating raw fish didn’t appeal to her. She’s courageous, I’ll give her that.
The other place we went to was our favorite Greek restaurant. I don’t think I packed in so much food in one sitting. I had a lamb dish that simply rocked my taste buds. If I die, can I request this to be the first dish I eat in heaven?
Lastly, I took time simply being in a quiet place to exist. I allowed the silence to fill my soul with peace, and I took the opportunity to soak in the calm. Incredible what happens when I do that. All of a sudden, life’s trials don’t appear so big anymore. They still are there but they in turn become little troubles I could work through to a resolution.
Anyway, that was my vacation. I’m hoping to do it all again soon, but first I have to get my next release out the door.
RANGER MARTIN AND THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE, on sale now.
RANGER MARTIN AND THE ALIEN INVASION, on sale now.
RANGER MARTIN AND THE SEARCH FOR PARADISE, on sale October 20.
Are you planning a vacation soon? Where are you thinking about going to?
Looking to God 
Have you checked your mother-in-law’s blog since she went home. She might have written something like ‘Spent some time with the son-in-law. He was on the raw fish again. Still, got to grin and bear it for the sake of my daughter. Bet he thinks I loved it.’
Very nice post and glad you took a break, we all need a break once in a while. I’ll be heading up to New York for the first time next month to a WWE ppv SummerSlam with my wife and I’ll get to spend some time with my niece who already lives up there.
I can’t wait to go to a new place that I’ve never been before.
Thanks, Denver. WWE SummerSlam sounds exciting. I hope you both have a great time!
Sounds like it was heavenly, and your MIL seems like she rocks…Happy Friday, Jack! Very excited for the TWD panel’s unveiling of the Season 6 trailer today…whoo hooo!
Family always makes or breaks a vacation. Doesn’t matter if you stay home, go to the most exotic and incredible place in the world, or go to some hole in the ground, your family can make it one to treasure or one to try and forget. Sounds like you had a really great one.
Sounds like a fun vacation. Although that hot sauce makes me cringe. Somewhere along the line, I lost my spicy food tolerance. Awesome that your mother-in-law enjoyed Jurassic World.
Sometimes I’m okay with spicy. I ate a pile of hot wings once, after a Nexium or 2. Then sometimes they make my esophagus go into rebellion.
I think my more recent stomach issues have done some damage. So I can eat spicy food and I’ll wake up feeling like I was run over by a truck.
sometimes the best vacations are the ones we do with family!!!
I love staycations! Being a tourist in my own town!
” Suicide chicken wing sauce ” ?
I’m getting acid reflux just hearing about it. 🙂
Other than that, sounds like a nice time was had by all !
Now I need to take another Nexium. 🙂
You know it. Best keeping a roll of Tums available when needed.
Sometimes I’m OK with spicy cuisine, sometimes a GIANT container of H20 better be close at hand, or something like Coca – Cola, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper….. The carbonation HELPS in some cases, maybe just my wonky biology / biochemistry. 🙂