It’s off-season, so I was able to snag a full ocean view
beachfront room, and the area is virtually deserted. It’s awesome. I’ve spent the last two days mostly becoming one with the
sand. The temperature has been hovering around eighty degrees, but it’s
supposed to drop tomorrow so I’ve been maximizing my outside time thus far. Like
usual, I brought protein shake supplies and snacks on the road. I really only
need to venture out for a meal once a day. Mexican food for a late lunch is
working for me.
I’ve been reading a little, writing a little, relaxing,
doing nothing, kind of being a hermit. On purpose.
I spent the weekend at a retreat in the mountains of
Pennsylvania with about fifty new friends. For those asking how it was … well,
indescribable is the best I’ve been able to do. It took place at a church camp
where I had the right carrier to get decent cell coverage, but I left the phone
in airplane mode most of the time anyway. The fall leaves were changing colors,
the weather was mild, and it was all around lovely.
The weekend was centered around themes from the movie Ragamuffin. Google it. Watch it. Note
that I said the focus was on the themes from the movie (the reckless raging
fury that they call the love of God … sing it with me …), not the movie, not
Rich Mullins. It was church camp for grown-ups. And other than my sinuses
usually not liking either nature or a lack of sleep, I think I need to go more
often.
I never lack for words (never!), and I’m still really at “indescribable”.
So I’m thankful for the divine inspiration that nudged me to schedule a few
days of downtime following. Most of my travel lately has been with groups of
people, and I’m often functioning as Julie, your cruise director, since I’m the
longtime road warrior. I don’t mind, but it doesn’t let me check out and relax
much.
So Tuesday morning I plopped down my
pink-and-orange-sherbet beach towel, planted my water bottle in the sand, and just lay on
the beach. Time to relax and just be. Finally. I recited the Lord’s Prayer in
my head as I breathed in the salt air and listened to the wind and the waves.
Our father. I don’t know why this passage in particular. It’s nice. I like it.
A lot. I don’t know that it’s ever been on my top ten list of favorites or a
signature verse for my life or anything, though. Our father. Who art in heaven. Hallowed be
thy name. Breathe in. Breathe out.
When I got to the “Thine is the power” part, the roar of
fighter jets rose up out of nowhere. Well, out of Norfolk, which is just up the
road. I love the roar of fighter jets. It says power. It says security. It says
strength and “hey, I’ve got this for you.” It says everything is going to be
ok. I’ve been hearing a lot of fighter jets.
I pried myself off the beach eventually and stopped by the
concierge desk to ask for a recommendation on Mexican food. I ended up in an extended conversation with the concierge. She’s probably bored this time
of year. Yes, she did ask, “What did you do to your arm?” I was smiling on the
outside, rolling my eyes on the inside. Baja Cantina was her suggestion. Great.
I pulled into a metered space on the street just a few steps from the
restaurant. I waited an eternity for the woman in front of me to pay for her
space at the common high-tech meter thingy. I of course struck up a
conversation with her, her daughter, and granddaughter. Never at a loss for
words.
Then it was my turn. Now I understood why it took so
long. Not especially user friendly, with a screen that’s hard to read in the
sun.
I was told Baja Cantina is kind of a dive, but
oooooohhhhhh. There was a sign on the door saying seat yourself, something,
something. A couple people sitting at tables outside. Inside it was dark. This
was the middle(ish) of the day. It was bright and sunny outside. There were a
few seats at the bar and a couple of booths open. And people were smoking. And
I was being eyed like a piece of fresh meat, especially by the guy who had been
sitting outside but had soon followed me in. Here I am in my preppy clothes and
Vera Bradley backpack, looking like a pale Yankee completely out of place. I
thought about staying ever so briefly. I know how to handle myself. I have the
gift of vicious rhetoric, and people usually don’t mess with me. But I turned around
and walked out the door and to my car. Four bucks and much effort worth of
parking down the drain, but whatever.
I drove around a little, starving, and then I saw it. A
sign that read, “We have scary good booritos.” Beautiful. Sold. Free parking
even. Three chicken tacos and lots of classic rock fabulousness later in a
well-lit setting that was much more my crowd, I was a happy camper.
I returned to the beach not long afterward, and then it
started. The plague of the flies.
It’s late October. The bugs should be gone, right?
Sorry. Nope. And they’re biting.
Really? Where is my peace? Where is my Zen? It’s hard to
relax when you’re itching.
At least fly bites go away quickly.
But the flies returned the next afternoon. I got nailed at
least a dozen times. I bought some afterbite. It’ll be fine.
I returned to my room for the evening, with no particular
plans other than to relax, apply afterbite, and stop itching. I mastered the
latter two. This hotel is pet friendly, and it seems someone with a dog has
taken up residence in the next room. How do I know this? The dog didn’t stop barking
and yipping and whining and howling for two solid hours. Two hours. Seriously,
Cerberus is living in the hotel room next to me. I put on some music and went to my happy
place. Praise God it has stopped now.(And hopefully stays that way.) I wasn’t
looking forward to having to complain to the front desk.
Peace. Relaxation.
I think the enemy works around the clock to divert our
attention with busyness and random distractions as much as he uses outright
temptation.
And sometimes he uses flies and dogs.
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