We leave Maui today. After nine nights with my family in Kihei we’re headed out on a red-eye tonight and, with luck, I’ll be rolling into my apartment a little after noon tomorrow. Most likely to promptly collapse and sleep away the afternoon with my cats.
We’ve done all our laundry in the machines in our condo so I’m going home with fresh clothes and hopefully no chores. Doubly helpful since I’ve caught either my brother or dad’s cold they were carrying through part of the vacation. My throat feels fluffy and scratched and I’m hoping it passes soon. After the holidays and then a vacation, my responsibilities at work will wait no longer.
The upside after so many half weeks and time off from work is that I’m eager to get going. My head feels clear, I know what I need to do, and I want to produce work this year worthy of my new Director title.
But wow, I am good at relaxing. My Maui vacation was mostly walking, eating, reading, and getting nine hours of sleep. And repeat.
Most mornings, my dad and I went on five mile walks – hitting our step goals before 9am. We walked alternating north and south routes along the shoreline, observing the environment, talking about life or plans or politics, and stopping for mid-walk coffee or sparkling water. If we kept our eye on the ocean, we could occasionally see the spray of distant whales.
We didn’t do many excursions: one trip to Paia to see a waterfall, sea turtles, and the huge waves fit for surfing competitions. Today we are headed out on a whale watching boat. Mostly we explored Kihei: the shops, the restaurants, and the fancy Grand Wailea hotel down the road. My mom and I showed off our pedicures all week (and our new clothes). I took my brother to get his first
My favorite days were the ones passed on the beach. Skin searching out the sun while I read, floating in the ocean swells to cool down, then reading again while I dried off on my Spider-Man beach towel.
Last night I went for a walk by myself along the beach: sandals in hand, listening to Michelle Obama’s Becoming on audiobook, letting the waves crest and wain around my ankles. I watched the sunset before heading back to the condo where I watched The Office with my family until bedtime. My throat was sore, but it was nice.
I’m looking forward to being in my own routine again: to having my own room and planning my own day, even it is filled with fewer ocean walks and more deep work time. But I am so thankful my family takes this time together and will do so every year. In 2020 my parents are already planning to come back for two weeks in February and my brother and I can pop in when we can.
They are calling Maui “Door County West”.
With Love,
Natalie