Joanne Heim: Vacation recap

This is at least the third time I have sat down and started to write this post about our trip to San Diego. Somehow, I have felt a bit overwhelmed as I face the keyboard with lots to say and only one hand to type it all. I know I can do it, but the time it takes feels daunting when I remember days of typing both quickly and accurately with two hands. I am going to persevere this morning and get this done while it is all still relatively fresh in my memory and before I forget too much.

The house is quiet, Maddie is sleeping on the red rug in the kitchen at my feet and I am warm and comfortable, so here goes!

What a marvelous trip we had!

Getting on the plane in Denver to fly to San Diego gave me a bit of a pause. I used my wheelchair up to the plane door (DIA is a really big airport), where the crew gate checked it for me, and walked onto the plane. I got a little nervous before takeoff and felt sorta claustrophobic--the Frontier plane seemedsmaller and more cramped than I remember planes being the last time I flew more than six years ago. But I breathed deeply and remembered those everlasting arms holding up the plane and made it through the flight just fine.

We landed in San Diego, got our bags and Dad found the rental car and picked us up at the curb. We headed straight to El Indio for carne asada burritos (a Heim family tradition when visiting San Diego by plane) before heading north to Leucadia. We arrived at our rental cottage, got unpacked, and went straight to bed.

The cottage was as cute as could be and over the week, I mentally moved in, remodeled the bathroom, repainted and redecorated, and created an entire fantasy life of living there someday! Unfortunately, my fantasy requires some time travel so I can do that as the pre-stroke me--running on the beach every morning and driving a cute convertible are big parts of my fantasy! Nevertheless, it was fun to dream and shop for fantasy furnishings for the rooms in the cottage for my charming patio. The fairy lights are staying on the patio, but I am adding some fountains and maybe a hot tub as well as some citrus trees in big pots.

We spent a lot of time watching the surf, ate at favorite restaurants, and saw a lot of friends. The weather was beautiful, clear and sunny. We went sailing in San Diego Bay, spent a day at Sea World, drove up to Newport for lunch at the Crab Cooker with my dearest friend Christy, wandered the shops in Encinitas, and enjoyed being a family. I posted pictures on Facebook and Twitter as the week went along.

A lot has changed in the years since I lived there from 2003-2006, but enough was the same that it felt like going back home.

Along with seeing friends, walking on the beach was definitely a highlight! There were times when I wasn't sure I'd walk alone again--let alone on the beach, so I found much to be grateful for and prayed many prayers of thanksgiving! It wasn't quite warm enough to walk barefoot, so I guess we'll have to go back when it is!The flight back to Denver was easier than the flight there.It didn't feel quite so new and unfamiliar to me.

Coming home is always wonderful--even if we are getting a snow storm in the next couple of days. I will be still and remember the feel of the sun on my face and the sound of the surf and stay inside as much as possible!

Have a great weekend, y'all!

Joanne