Somebody Pinch Me

(I meant to post this last month, but somehow this never got published)

I was hesitant to write this blog post, because I didn’t want to seem like I was bragging too much or rubbing it in, but I just returned from the most wonderful vacation of my life.  I know that sounds like an exaggeration, but it really was.   I had a dream wedding and honeymoon on the beach in beautiful Antigua.  It was magical.  The turquoise water was stunning, the white sand, and the lush green hillside, I really had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming the whole thing.

There is something so lovely and freeing about getting married later in life.  My fiancé (now husband) and I had been together for 5 years.  We both agreed we wanted to be married on a beach somewhere – preferably barefoot.  After spending hours looking at beautiful beaches online, I found the perfect place & he agreed – but the price tag was steep.  After some debating we both agreed that we owed it to ourselves to be extravagant once in a while – so we booked the room and made the plans. 

Standing on the beach in the Caribbean sunshine, with the cool sea breeze blowing in my hair, and some tropical flowers in my bouquet, I said I do to the most wonderful man in the world.  After the wedding, we spent 7 more days in paradise.  We swam, we laughed, we went snorkeling, we went scuba diving, we went sailing, and we had the time of our lives.  We have a thousand memories for every dollar we spent & we both agree it was worth every penny.  I don’t want to look back with regret, wishing I had been willing to do something bold & extravagant.  I love being old enough to ignore the rules and conventions and simply choose what I want to do.

As we returned home I thought about our trip.  I realized that I would not have enjoyed this trip nearly as much when I was young.  I would have been so busy worrying about my kids or my house or the money that I wouldn’t have allowed myself to be fully in the moment.  I love being older and wiser.  I love being able to fully appreciate each and every moment, whether they are spectacular memories on a turquoise beach, or simply sitting in the backyard playing with the dogs.  I am enjoying my life now more than ever.