Ushering in Springtime

Today is the final day of my spring break. I've gone many places and seen so many people, but all within a 150 mile radius of my home. Here are some facts about the last 10 days.

Cities visited:

• Rochester
• South Bend
• Fishers
• Indianapolis
• Greenwood
• Bowling Green, Ohio

People seen:

• mom & dad
• brother & sister-in-law
• cousin and baby
• six high school friends
• four new friends
• one long-lost college friend and roommate (and her large family)
  

Activities:

• car work (oil change, tires rotated, new air filters)
• random conversation with a truck driver from Toledo while waiting on car
• movie night with Sara W.
• birthday dinner and movie with dad & co.
• Easter service and game day with fam
• devastating LASIK consultation
• dinner & movie out with Liz R.
• massage
• tortellini at my favorite Italian place in Indy
• lunch with Elizabeth M.
• afternoon with Sara & Ava (including baking cookies and taking a walk)
• evening with Leslie D.
• Indianapolis Museum of Art (it's free!) & new downtown branch of the Marion Cty. Public Library with Liz B.
• dinner at Loon Lake Lodge with Matt & Courtney and the best server ever named Joe
• evenings with Kyle
• a heavenly voice recital performed by Cat Randall, my favorite vocalist of all time--with music so beautiful she brought tears to my eyes with the "Flower Duet" from Lakme and "Give Me Jesus"

Distance traveled:

• nearly 1,000 miles

I'm convinced there's no better way to spend a vacation than sleeping in, taking walks, visiting old and new friends, reading good books, drinking coffee, experiencing new places, and spending time with the people I love. Though my original plan to visit friends on the coast fell through, I must admit that this break was not a let down at all. It was, in fact, one of my favorite vacations ever, continuing the idea that vacations I plan and take on my own tend to be the best ones. Though I was surrounded by people this week, I was operating on a no alarm clock, relaxed, take-my-time schedule, which translates to stress-free and perfectly lovely.