How To Be on Vacation

see you in a few

things you’ll need: a place to be and time to be there

Chapter 200

Go somewhere you have never been or back to that place that always beckons you home or go nowhere and tell everyone you are gone. Put on every one of your favorite albums and drown out that voice whispering all the things you are not doing. Do them later. Do nothing. Unless it’s something that makes you happy. In which case, do it twice.

Fall asleep watching movies that you have already seen. Take a walk just to be somewhere you’ve never been. Bring a book and forget to read it or read it in one day and then get another one off the shelf or don’t. Maybe just take another nap or a bath or make a fire or a pillow fort. When is the last time you have played make-believe or had pancakes for dinner?

When you laugh, use your whole belly. If you cry, get good and snotty about it. If your rage finds you, take off the careful lid and let it burn itself all the way out. You’ll make more rage later. When it’s all just joy and gratitude, fill your cup to brimming.

When is the last time you woke up in the middle of the night just to look at the moon and not solve any problems? When is the last time you have said “no” when someone asks if you have a minute? Keep all your minutes. Waste them. Tell everyone you are busy and ignore your phone. Leave it in the car on purpose. Everyone can wait. They can fill you in later.

Order enough food for three even though it’s all for you. Don’t cook unless you want pasta and only your Bolognese will do. Pat your satisfied belly and take a nap because that’s the only thing on the list today. Throw out all other lists.