storytimewithjoe | Sand in My Shoes

I’m reminded of the lyrics from Dido’s song about the weary sanitation-worker who returns to her gloomy desk on a cold day after returning home from vacation. Her mind wanders back to visions of sun reflecting off of gentle waves, as the sound of gulls resonate across the tropical landscape. It isn’t just the fact that she doesn’t enjoy the mundanity of her life. It is that the return is so sudden, so fierce, and so intense. She knows she has to return to her job. She knows she has to work for a living. But can’t there be an easy transition? Heck, she still has sand in her shoes.

That’s me today.

Returning to life in Santa Ana today is a bit of a challenge. Somewhat like a metaphoric swimming pool, I would really, really prefer to go in from the shallow end, and not drown. But the choice isn’t mine. There’s traffic, and noise, and trash, and tagging, and bills to be paid, and paperwork to fill-out, and people to hand-hold, and problems to solve, and fat to burn, and dishes to wash, and clutter to clean,… and… and…

…siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh…

In no time at all, I’m having withdrawal. I miss the waving palms. I miss the jagged mountaintops. I miss the pool. I miss the buzz of the hummingbirds, and the roar of the waterfall. I miss familiar faces of friends.

So now I turn my sites to the next vacation. Bring on Ptown and Bear Week!