I Left My Brain in Santa Fe

My hubby and me after receiving a marriage blessing at the oldest church in the U.S.
(notice the photo bomb at right of the photo)

My long awaited annual vacation just came to an end, and just like that, the friendly elves that made my bed, cleaned my room, and whisked me to a far-off culinary world ended.
Our laundry hamper is now filled with stinky remnants of the Southwest, while my agenda has suddenly exploded with to-do's that were forgotten while away.
That's the thing about vacations: You put so much effort into planning them, that when they end, you almost regret your time away and question why you even took a vacation in the first place.  I mean, life kinda goes back to what it was before you left.
Honestly, sometimes it gets worse (one quick glance at my more than one thousand emails), but in other respects it gets better.
For starters, the packing nightmare that threw me into a hissy fit with my hubby the night before we flew to Santa Fe, was forgotten as soon as we checked in at the airport.  That in itself is a huge deal: I tend to hold on to "marital" grudges until my hubby makes me laugh over something entirely too ridiculous to write about (don't judge - this is called marriage).
Today instead, hubby woke up in a less than foul mood (he's not a morning person), and took the time to josh a little before he headed off to work.  A week ago, a kiss would be the most he could muster.
That in itself, is proof positive that even men need time away.
It's no secret that I tend to be a little anxious and  rudeness will throw me in for a tailspin. While I can't avoid rude folks, I can change my reaction.  
Today I was tested when I was confronted with a snarky commentary online.  A week ago I would have "taken it offline to argue my point." Today I let it go - and won.  
Vacations, or the aftermath of a vacation, tends to do that to ya'.

Me having wa-ay too much fun at the Museum of Native American History Sculpture Garden.

The goal of our vacation, like anyone else's, was to refresh and renew.  Not that single folks don't deserve a vacation, but once you are married, a vacation is no longer a luxury, it's a necessity.  Growing up in a family that honored vacations and time away, I made sure that my hubby understood that marrying me would include a lifetime of travel, or risk having a very unhappy wife at home.
This wife (pointing at me), is now happy.  Very.
Hubby and I did a lot of what we like to do while in Santa Fe: took part in the local art and culture scene, met new people, enjoyed the Southwest scenery, and dined like the locals.
Santa Fe wasn't just a destination, it was magical experience.
The slow pace of Santa Fe (in comparison to L.A.), encouraged us to enjoy everything we did a little bit longer.  Because our cell and internet reception was spotty, we were forced to speak to each other instead of hiding behind our cell phones.  
We woke up early and went to sleep early.  We rested.
We had time to think, speak, and reconnect.  
We planned our future without daily interruptions and weren't ashamed to enjoy affectionate glances and coquettish touches in public (my hubby is extraordinarily shy when it comes to PDA).
Santa Few renewed our marriage (literally!) and refreshed our life goals, but most importantly, got us back on track.
I left my brain in Santa Fe and found my soul.  

One of the many beautiful rock formations outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico

My heart is happy, my spirit is joyous. Life is good.

In the words of Greg Anderson, "Focus on the journey, not the destination.  Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it." 
Here's to many more travels ahead,