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February 18, 2014

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Holiday, Poetry

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Vacation Dreaming Haibun

Used with kind permission of Arthur Browne via Haibun Thinking

Used with kind permission of Arthur Browne via Haibun Thinking

When I know a vacation is coming, I build castles in the sky of what amazing adventures are coming. Being a perfectionist, I imagine how it could be perfect, and work toward making it so, and worry about all the things that could go wrong.

My daughter was puking up her guts, going through copious bedding as the waves came, and then seemed to abate, and then returned, all through a very long night. The next day, Friday, was the last day of school before vacation week, and my older son tossed his cookies at school (yes, another vomiting euphemism).

Meanwhile, my laptop’s hard drive’s ever increasing crashing turned out to be its death throes. All weekend, I rotated the laundry and worked toward getting a new hard drive, integration of a new operating system and retrieval of all my work.

Still, I found time to continue dreaming of palm trees, blue skies, warm breezes and perfect, lazy vacation days. A snowstorm came through, dumping six inches. My kids were puking, the snow was falling, and my laptop was in the shop. And yes, I continued to aspire to the perfect vacation, especially while shoveling or driving to the apple store.

hope does not tire
dreams never leave
vacation, will come

Miraculously, vacation did arrive, a few days late. Saturday: endless snow, struggling with data retrieval, fighting off my own fever, preparing lots of invalid food. Sunday: on the phone with apple support for hours, successfully retrieved my data despite the backup partially failing, then ran a new backup for 12 hours. Monday: packing frantically, departing for the airport, long pacing at Newark Airport waiting for our connecting flight, getting in very late, exhausted kids and parents.

Here it is Tuesday, and we have lounged by the pool, seen lizards on palm trees, and drank champagne (ok, not the kids). We managed to get here in time for the best weather all week.

dreams blossom
green fronds unfold in sun
paradise found

Palm Tree Orlando Florida

Copyright 2014 Brenda Davis Harsham

Inspired by the Haibun Thinking prompt and the photograph above by Arthur Browne.

36 thoughts on “Vacation Dreaming Haibun”

  2. Since our December dreams were altered… Hubby and I are planning a week for just the two of us mid – March.
    Computer crashes and reworks are not fun. Been there, done that. Glad you were able to get ‘her fixed.

    Enjoy your family vacation!!! I am sooo dreaming of mine… with just my hubby.

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    • A vacation for two is way in our future. Someday I want to take the kids to Europe. Maybe in three years or so. Once we recover from this current insane spending spree. 🙂 Cheers, Brenda

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  5. Sounds like a well earned break. I love the way you have written this. The dreamy haiku and lilting language of your holiday hopes contrasting with the puking, the computer hassles and the driving snow. What a fantastically energetic piece of writing. Well done. 🙂

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  7. I think you imagined it right into happening. You ARE tenacious and ought to be given a shiny award for it, besides! Happy sun and warmth! If you’re in California, it looks like we have pretty good weather for you for the rest of the week. We’re hospitable, if nothing else. 🙂

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  9. “Tossing cookies” is one that I have not heard of for a few years 😀 It makes me giggle.

    The thought of vacations and sun sounds fun and a lot better than the snow, wind and rain.

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  12. I absolutely love that you like a stubborn child kept your dream of your vacation – in spite of the snow and the puking. That’s so great at it shows what a strong person you are. I can realte to this so much – except from the part with the palms and the champagne ( I’m still waiting for that 🙂

    Well done Brenda, nothing can beat over you 🙂
    I hope you have a marvellous trip.

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  13. Hihi, how funny the world is! Here am I in the middle of all that, sun, blue sky, palm trees, and I can’t stop dreaming of snow, and northern lights, and crisp midnight blue mornings, and white twinkling stars, and snow-clad trees, and hot chocolate and blazing fire places 🙂 We are funny! But I guess, too much of something makes you wish for the opposite…or maybe it’s just me, being a Norwegian…….in India

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