Adieu

First time in my life I was actually excited to come home from vacation. I don’t what that sounds about my life, either the vacation was not up to par, which is not true, or I really want to return to my life. I miss people and things. I miss being able to flush toilet paper. I miss sushi, pho, and grilled cheese. I miss American beer. And God Damn do I miss my hair straightener. It sounds bad, I guess. But I suppose wanting to come home is better than dreading it. I embraced my last couple days. Knowing I would be given shit if I came back as milky white as I arrived, I laid out for an entire 48 hours straight (well, I paused for drinks and nachos). I got drunk and stuffed my face on the last night. I even had dessert (I know, I’m so bad). I made jokes and I got to see my parents laugh. I actually put on makeup for family pictures. I stopped complaining, finally, and let the vacation that was suddenly coming to a close envelop me. It took nine days, but I finally realized that this vacation really helped me “recuperate” from the mundane that is, at times, my life. I also realized that this was one of the last vacations I would have with my parents. I mean sure, we’ll do this later on, but it won’t the same. For one, they won’t pay for everything. I’ll be busier and they will be less mobile (which is definitely not a word I thought would ever describe my parents). This trip my mother sprung on me was, for better or worse, a congratulations for my graduation (and an “I’m sorry life sucks sometimes”) present. But it was more than that. Much more. I think it took me until this morning to realize how much the trip meant to my parents, too. My dad, who tries his hardest to hide his feelings, shed a tear in our hugging embrace. As hard as I tried not to, I did as well. It was in that moment that I knew he wanted to go home too. He wanted to jump on that plane with my mom and I and go back home, where it’s safe. I know he’ll manage his last two weeks alone, but he will inevitably miss our company. Today I said goodbye to the hotel La Princesa, to the sun, the mountains, the palm trees, and the wildlife. But I know I’ll be back.