REST AND REJUVENATION SUMMERTIME OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES TO NURTURE OUR FAMILIES, OURSELVES AND OUR SOULS

BY CATHI DOUGLAS

IT SEEMS STRANGE TO non-Catholics, but one of my favorite parts of summer vacation travel was Sunday mornings when we would attend a local church.

Every Catholic community worships universally, but still there are neighborhood and regional traditions and each parish has its own personality.

My husband and I just returned from a whirlwind trip to the Bay Area. We were there to visit our middle son and his girlfriend, but we also explored Golden Gate Park, Twin Peaks, the Palace of Fine Arts and more.

Our time was spent talking and eating, whether we were in their apartment or at their favorite Italian restaurant. Vacations usually mean I lose a few pounds, but not this time. Our son believes that life is all about the food.

Vacations – even short weekend getaways – are among my favorite things. I love having a trip to look forward to, and having no trips on the books was, for me, one of the worst parts of the coronavirus pandemic.

For me, vacations mean exploring. Regional food, national museums, state parks and historic hotels are just some of the attractions I love. Reading about a city ahead of time and booking some events, activities and tours makes each trip more special. We still talk about the bus tour we took from London to the Cotswolds and the hop on, hop off bus that drove us through Boston.

Vacations, of course, provide escape from our busy work lives, the change to unplug from technology, the opportunity to indulge ourselves in massages and margaritas – whatever leisure pursuits allow us to recharge and rejuvenate. It’s common for me to meditate and pray more when I’m away than at home, where my everyday obligations are call out for my attention.

One of our most indulgent vacations was just after our oldest son’s wedding, when we knew we’d be tapped out from all the stress and activities. We booked an all-inclusive stay at the Hotel Encantada resort in Cabo San Lucas, and never left the property. It offered five different swimming pools, private villas stocked with drinks and with full kitchens, and at least a half-dozen restaurants, some of them fancy and others dedicated to local cuisine. We were never without drinks in our hands and relied on our personal butler to drive us to appointments at the spa or dinner reservations. On that trip, we experienced how the other half lives; it was a revelation to return home to our usual lives – the ones that include laundry and bills Getaways are good, but staycations can be fulfilling, too. Sharing afternoon espresso breaks on the front porch glider allows my husband and I to observe the birds, butterflies and bees. It’s refreshing to body and soul alike. Hiking one of Orange County’s many trails, in the foothills or at the ocean, provides the eye with new vistas and the soul with fresh opportunities to appreciate God’s gifts to us, including the natural worlds of plants and animals, sunsets and moonrises. Summer provides students with a break from the classroom and adults a change of pace. I pray that this summer offers you the opportunity to take a deep breath, relax and rest – and the chance to reconnect with your soul. C