Onward to the Solstice… and Maui
With the eclipses, the 3-Day Guided Meditation Challenge and the Looking Back Dreaming Forward program launch completed, it’s time to rest.
Generally, that’s what we do in deep winter – rest, gather our energy, and plan for the future. I love the coziness of this time, but not the coldness. I dream of spending the winter in places like Hawaii, Tucson, and Florida – where the sun shines for longer periods and the warmth heals my body.
It seems to be a part of my genealogy. I’m 96% Italian (100% Mediterranean) with lots of relatives from Naples and Sicily, and some from the Apennines (not so warm there). All my life I recall my dad wanting to winter in Florida. When he reached retirement age, he started to do just that and he’s so happy!
Some of my happiest winters were in Tucson and Jacob and I hope to return there this winter for a time. But first, Maui, for a much-belated honeymoon and deep rest!
Our Wedding
You see, Jacob and I got married in 2010 on the spur of the moment (well, spur of the month, really). After all the hubbub of Thanksgiving was complete, we decided to get married.
It’s a funny, and typical, story for us. We wanted to get married but couldn’t agree on who we wanted to marry us. We went round and round – a justice of the peace, the ministers at the Unity Church I was attending, a friend who was ordained. We just couldn’t agree!
Out of the blue, one of us thought of a Buddhist Zen Master we had met at a Nonviolent Communication International Intensive Training the previous year. Dae Gak lived at Furnace Mountain Zen Center in northeastern Kentucky.
We were going to Cincinnati for Christmas that year, which was only a couple of hours from Furnace Mountain. They were willing to host our small band of family for the wedding and a plan was born.
The Honeymoon
Our honeymoon consisted of one night at Furnace Mountain after the wedding and a few more days with family in Cincinnati.
In 2020, we planned to go on a trip to celebrate 10 years of marriage, but COVID happened. This year, we’re doing it anyway. Eleven years is a long time to be in a relationship with one person (I think) and we have transformed together. We resemble the people we were when we met, but thankfully, we’re better versions of ourselves.
We head to Maui on Saturday and return just before the new year. I hope to return rested, rejuvenated, and ready for what 2022 has to offer.
I’ve no idea what new I’ll offer in 2022. We’ll live into it together.
May you enjoy this winter holiday season – wherever you are, whatever you are celebrating.
Thanks for reading!
