Filled to Bursting with Beginning

A collection of bags is gathered round my feet. One is filled with more books than I could read in a year's time, another holds all things electronic and chargeable, and still another which just wouldn't fit anywhere else in our vacation-laden vehicle. 

On my lap rests my bed pillow whose purpose is more a desk than headrest. Perched atop my pillow is a new cookbook that arrived on my doorstep days before our scheduled departure which I've saved for a slow, easy browse on the trip. 

So far, things are progressing pretty much as planned, half of the trip behind us, half still ahead. We awakened this morning well rested and ready to roll.

The children are riding along in a luxury that their father and I, when we were their ages, had only witnessed on the futuristic space-aged cartoon "The Jetsons". 

It's been a while since we've vacationed this far from home and Molly has predictably taken on the role of the "are-we-there-yet" kid adding a bit of variety to the monotony by also regularly asking if we are sure that we are going the right way. It is really tempting to ask her if she's learned a better way to "da beach" in her four long years of life.

We are very much traveling "The Wright" way though. Our luggage sports many more books than articles of clothing, we've got our coffee mugs filled to the brim, K-Love and TobyMac are playin' on the radio, and we are ever scanning the horizon for a Chick-Fil-A or a conveniently located Sonic! 

We remain filled to bursting with everything that is the beginning of vacation: disbelief that the time has finally arrived, sheer gratitude for the time away to unwind and relax, excited anticipation for the adventures that lie ahead, and finally, the knowledge that we should cherish every moment because doing so will perhaps slow the passage of our time away together extending it from what will seem like a blink to maybe what will later seem a lingering gaze!

“One of the gladdest moments of human life, me thinks, is the departure upon a distant journey into unknown lands. Shaking off with one mighty effort the fetters of habit, the leaden weight of routine, the cloak of many cares and the slavery of home, man feels once more happy.” 

– Sir Richard Burton

{Click here for the next post in the vacation series.}