Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Vacation blues

There are a few reasons why I don’t like to travel. One of them is what I call post-holiday depression, a terrible low I go through after coming home from a nice vacation. It isn’t that I don’t like being home, quite the contrary. But when your travels have been enjoyable and you don’t often have the opportunity to go away, it is a bit of a letdown when it is over. I suppose it is stupid to use this feeling as a reason not to take a trip, but I’m really not sure if a couple of days of fun are worth a week or two of depression.

To add insult to injury, we were barely back from Crete for 36 hours before it was time for my parents to go home. I had initially thought that five weeks with my parents might be overkill for all of us, but I guess I’ve entered that stage of my life where I realize my parents are definitely not immortal, and the time I spend with them is measured in days and weeks instead of months and years. I miss them.

I promise a more entertaining (and less depressing) account of my trip to Crete along with pictures soon.

6 comments:

neoinileias said...

πολυ ενδιαφερον

Anonymous said...

I know that you mean about noting the passage of time. I miss my Mom almost every day, and she lives only 2 hours away. But because of very different work schedules, and because of Genghis, she and I get very little "us" time.

So are you ever coming to Nash Vegas?

Cheryl said...

I'm so glad that you had a nice time. I felt that way about vacations before, but then again, I've also been on lengthy vacations and couldn't wait to get home. And when I had cats and the best cat-sitters in the world...I always felt guilty leaving them. I bet that they were so happy to have you home.
I'm glad that you enjoyed the time with your parents. I think when a person lives so far from loved ones a new appreciation is realized and when you do actually get to see them -time is usually spent enjoying each other's company rather than worrying about petty differences that might normally cause(internal) stress. At least that's how it is for me, I know that it's not the same for everyone.
I can't wait to see your pictures.

Anonymous said...

Older parents, yes, I know what you mean. My parents are in really good health, but this morning at 5 am I was awakened out of a sound sleep thinking I'd heard my mother say, "Lulu?" I wasn't easy in my mind until I could call and find out she was okay.

Laurie Constantino said...

Not a depressing post at all, its nice to know I'm not the only one with post-vacation adjustment disorder. You're lucky to have had so much time with your parents - it's hard living so far away from them.

melusina said...

Onward - I guess that is the thing, even when we live relatively close to our parents, once we are adults we don't have the opportunity to see them every day. When my parents still lived in Nashville I hardly every saw them! I don't know if we'll come to Nash Vegas - my family is all in the Virginia/Maryland area and since it is doubtful we'll ever have more than a couple of weeks in the U.S. I don't know that visiting Nashville will be a priority. Maybe someday. If my husband gets his licensing to practice in the U.S. we might spend a year or two somewhere and I'll probably push for Nashville.

Cheryl - There are definitely vacations that are too long. My parents and I did share some petty differences while they were here but we get over it quickly. I think when that is the dynamic of the relationship it is unavoidable, in a way, but I guess the thing is despite that, I miss being around them.

Lulu - such a thing would totally freak me out. I'm glad your mom was ok!

Laurie - I'm sure a lot of people share this disorder. Good vacations seem to be necessary for the soul.