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Vacations Are Important
By Ed Vasicek
One comic wrote, "I asked my mail carrier where he went on his vacation. He said, 10017, 60609, and 34291." That mail carrier certainly got around! Too bad he didn't get around to 46901.
When I think of my childhood, there is no doubt in my mind that family vacations were the absolute highlight. I have sympathy for children whose parents fail to make vacation trips; I also feel for the parents, for all involved are losers. There is an awful lot to be said for vacations.
I parent very differently from my dad: he was not very involved with the family and I immerse myself in mine. But, at least when I was younger, he did set aside time and money for us to pack up the car and head out of state. And I still cherish those memories.
Growing up in a "suburb" (as if living a mere three blocks from Chicago's city limits is very suburban!), I can remember being excited at the site of rural mailboxes. I used to call them "lunch boxes" because of their shape. To see farms, woods, lakes, even gravel roads without people shuffling all over the place-what a treat it was to my young eyes. How I loved living in those rented cottages! It was a different world. No television. No phone. Hiking, fishing, row boating, playing cards in the evening-what a change of pace, what a bonding time.
We would frequently take off without a definite location in mind. We would simply head north. Sometimes we would find a cabin in Wisconsin, other times the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We ended up vacationing near a quaint town named "Crystal Falls" on several occasions. We would cruise around at night to spy deer; we would even park alongside the garbage dump in hopes of spotting a bear sorting through the trash. I remember the fun of picking fresh blueberries grown in Michigan's sandy soil. If there were any caves nearby, we would tour them.
The concept of vacation is nothing new. The Bible is filled with holidays and time away from the routine. It was hard to be both a workaholic and obey the Law! In Old Testament Israel, the Hebrews were to take every seventh day off to rest (that was the original emphasis of the Sabbath Day). When a man would marry a woman, his parents would provide sustenance for the couple for an entire year. They would enjoy a long honeymoon. Every seventh year, the land was to rest and the people were free to enjoy this Sabbath Year.
Three times a year, the men (and their families, if able) would make the trip to Jerusalem to celebrate the festivals. Although some of the festivals were solemn times, others involved celebration, feasting, visiting, and merry-making.
Although the modern vacation differs from its Biblical counterpart, it still enhances family life and helps a household become more tight-knit. While some spend extravagant amounts of money to see exotic sights, others vacation on a budget through camping. Some can only afford to make day trips and return to sleep at home. A good vacation need not break the bank.
Vacations not only promote family closeness and create shared memories; they help one gain bearings in life. A couple can dream and discuss their future plans as they stroll through the woods. Children discover how life varies when the routine is varied. Society exists outside of the hometown.
Vacations rejuvenate us and refresh us. I have returned from many a vacation with renewed enthusiasm, a relaxed mind that is more creative, or a broadened perspective because I have, for a time, lived in a different world.
Do not rob yourself-and even more so-your family-of the blessings of vacation. Whether you vacation in the woods or tour a large city, break the routine. You will refresh yourself and create memories that could bond you and your children for a lifetime.