Stop #35: You know what you need after you crash your jeep and have to leave it and your Airstream in Dallas? Time with your grandparents. After I stopped my sniffling and feeling bad for myself, I continued to my next planned stop to see them in Hot Springs Village, AR, just a few hours later than I had planned. I have been there a few times before, and this particular visit could not have been timed better.
Homemade meals, a comfy bed, lots of laughs, non-public washer and dryer, a clean bathroom, and so much love for Luna and me. It’s not often in your adult life that you have the opportunity to spend several uninterrupted days with your grandparents. There is always someone else you have to share their time with and they with yours. Maybe it’s just me because I didn’t grow up geographically close with much of my family, so perhaps I appreciate the time more than others may. Regardless, it was a really really enjoyable few days.
The time there reminded me of one important fact about life and especially about this trip: there is no rush. Several times I would say something along the lines of, “I’ll go get ready quickly,” so that we could go do something or another. Their response would be something along the lines of, “No need to rush around here.” It was exactly what we all need to remember; we don’t need to constantly be rushing from one thing to the next. I’m the worst offender of this. Slooowww doowwnnnn!!
While there, we spent a lot of time just catching up and chatting about pretty much everything, but we also went out to dinner and gelato, exchanged recipes, and going to visit some of the cultural attractions:
Papa also took me golfing. This was definitely an exercise in patience. I had played golf one other time a few years ago, and I’m awful. We kept letting people pass us, so we wouldn’t hold them up. He told me I improved 1000% from the first hole to the last. Of course, that is a grandfather’s job – to pump up my confidence. Regardless of my skill level, I really enjoyed the 9 holes we played, on what I understand is a very nice course. Thank you, Papa, for taking me and for your patience with me. Maybe I will take lessons so I can keep up a bit more next time I visit.
Despite Papa’s severe dog allergy, they welcomed Luna into the house, and she made herself right at home.
Thank you, Lola & Papa, for loving us and giving us exactly what we needed.
Lesson of the Day: Take the time to spend some quality time with family without others. And sloooowww downnnnn!
L&K Take America 