Post Vacation

How was California, Ann?

50 degrees warmer than Minnesota, wine tastings and a taste of both mountains and ocean in one week. Now throw in a a spa treatment most days, a nice upgrade in our room with a private jacuzzi, and free breakfast delivered to you door each morning. It was a slow vacation, with few agendas and meant to be completely relaxing. 100 percent self-indulgence vacation!

We set a nice plan in place - spa, eat, taste and sleep in a setting known for relaxation.

And, for the most part, it worked out that way. But, as we are all trying hard to accept, MSA makes even the greatest plan difficult to implement without major changes.

For example, a visit to a winery.

You drive until you find one that sounds interesting, or one that you have picked out. Then you fork over a few bucks for a tasting. They pour, describe and try to encourage a purchase. You sip, discuss the tastes and toss out the extras. You either buy or you don't and you drive off to your next destination.

Easy peasy, right? But reality sets in when you put the plan into action.

First there was the bathroom - everywhere the bathroom becomes a problem. We find our first winery, and get ready for a tasting of 6 red wines. First one is poured, and Dennis has to take a poop. We make it to the bathroom just in time, and about 10 minutes later, we are back to taste the wine that has been sitting waiting for us. At least it had plenty of breathing time.

Into our second taste, Dennis says he must return to the bathroom. 15 minutes later, we are back at the bar, and Dennis is depleted from all the up and downs of bathroom life. We head back to the hotel for a jacuzzi.

Or, for another example, a spa treatment.

Normally, you jump up on the table, get massaged in very assorted ways with a variety of oils and creams. When done, you feel relaxed and rejuvenated and fork over a big tip out of gratitude for the renewed feelings in your mind and body.

Then, it is Dennis' turn for his massage. So I took my relaxed body, and shoved, and pushed Dennis up onto the table and pushed more until he was on his stomach, face in the right place for breathing. Then 30 minutes later, someone comes looking for me to flop him over. then it is up from the table and a long push of the chair back to the room. Dress both of us, feed Dennis, insert his pills, shower and dress myself, and on and on. When all is said and done, the aches in the back have returned and I am ready for a nap.

It was a great get away. I just need to accept these changes in traveling with Dennis. And I can - it's for the sake of a vacation away from home, after all.

Until later,
Ann and Dennis