Vacation!

Sorry this post is so late, but it’s been a a hard transition back into reality after my whirlwind trip to Greece two weeks ago. Much like any responsible mother, I kissed my family goodbye a few short weeks into the school year and flew half way around the world to Greece in order to celebrate one of my best friend’s birthdays. Totally responsible and totally logical, right?

Not at all and that’s just why I needed to do it.

I admit that I felt a little selfish and reckless as I packed my bag for the trip. Writing down my son’s schedule for my husband and mother-in-law, I realized how much I was leaving for them to take care of in my absence – school runs, sports practices and games, homework, meals and bedtimes…so many things I wasn’t going to be home to take care of.

But as soon as I got on the plane, my worries vanished completely. Rather than stressing about the things I wasn’t at home to do, I trusted my family to take care everything my absence and threw myself into relaxing.

Greece has always been on my travel bucket list. I read Ovid in high school and learned about Ancient Greece in Western Civ class. As a theater major in college, I studied the origins of theater in Greece and read Sophocles, Euripides, Aeschylus to name a few. The weight of Greece’s long history was almost tangible in the fragrant summer breezes that swept across the island of Zakynthos where we spent the majority of our time. Dotted with peaceful monasteries, over two million olive trees and surrounded warm turquoise waters, we soaked up as much of the local culture as we could and enjoyed the best Greek food I’ve ever tasted.

There were so many places I didn’t have time to visit in our short trip, but exploring the breath-taking scenery of Zakynthos and our brief stay Athens gave me a small hint of what awaits me when I return. Here are a few photos from my trip:

We toured the island on a yacht, swimming in the warm, buoyant ocean amid caves and shipwrecks:

Why am I jumping off the yacht? I’d just discovered RISING STAR had been honored as a Finalist in The American Fiction Awards in the GENERAL FICTION and YOUNG ADULT categories. I had to celebrate in a big way:

These photos can’t touch the vibrant colors of Greece – you have to see them in person. I can’t wait to return. It was a once in a lifetime trip with some incredible traveling companions.

Happy Wednesday!🇬🇷💕