The Summer Holiday

We’re all going on a summer holiday. I’ve heard that song and it just popped into my mind.   Maybe I’m just feeling happy. But we are going on a summer holiday. Guess that’s pretty well the best reason to be happy, don’t you think? Getting the family together, sorting yourself out, and leaving behind the cold, the wind and, yes, even the ice and snow sometimes.   Sweet joy of living.

Mind you, it nearly didn’t happen this year. There was this virus. That was bad. Thought we might all get grounded. It wasn’t looking good for a while. Lots got sick, many died. In fact, there were quite a few mass graves. I personally lost quite a few mates to it. Sad way to go, too.  We were all worried and not just about missing out on a summer holiday. Dying. It’s not our aim in life though it is, of course, our ultimate destination. Our ultimate destination. Food for thought there.

But it’s not the destination we’re heading to now. Now, we’re heading to the sun. Here comes the sun. That’s another song isn’t it? Give me sunshine, all the while. There. There’s another. Maybe I should tweet the whole list. Ha. Wouldn’t that be a laugh?

See it’s not summer here. It’s heading to winter. The mornings are cold, the trees have all lost their leaves. Bare trees…. I hate that look. They’re like skeletons or something. The skies are grey, at least mostly grey. You might get the occasional patch of blue but rarely. And of course, it rains. My god, but it rains. And the cold – I hate the cold. My legs pretty well near freeze you know. Maybe I have bad circulation. Nothing seems to help.  Anyway, that’s why heading into the better weather is the go, and if you are going to take your vacation to avoid the winter, what better place than somewhere where the sun is blazing and the birds sing songs of joy.  Get a bit of sun on my legs and they’ll be good as new.  Quite sexy actually, well so she say. My wife. Watches me like a hawk when we do get there – lots of sexy chicks in the sun so she is always on guard. No need though,  I only have eyes for her. Well, mostly.

Bye Bye Rainy Days, Bye Bye Snow. I think that’s another song actually. Bye bye to the land of winter scarcity and hello to the land of milk and honey! Well, sort of. I’m lactose intolerant and went off honey in a big way after an argument with a few bees! But you get the idea.   We’re off to a sort of land of plenty. Certainly, there’s plenty to see, plenty to eat, plenty of warmth, plenty of company. Oh, did I mention that we always travel in a group? Yes, a whole bunch of us. It’s safer, especially in foreign parts. Foreign parts! We go there every year. It’s more like a second home really. The locals know us. Sometimes, I think that they think we’re as local as they are. It’s not just safety I guess. We travel together because we’re like a big family now. You certainly get to know someone when you’re travelling half way across the world with them. And after a couple of years, they’re like best friends. It’s part of the joy, part of the fun. We reminisce, talk about the things that matter, talk about the things that don’t matter! Solo travel, even with your family, isn’t as good, not in my opinion anyway. 

It’s all about the experience. The build up to the trip. Getting ready. Making sure you’ve got enough to make the journey. Plans about your itinerary when you get there. Maybe you’ll make new friends. Meet up with others that you haven’t seen for years. The joy in finding new kids on the trip, the sadness when you learn of old friends who have passed. There’s no one who doesn’t start looking forward to the summer holiday once autumn starts to descend.   We have a saying in our family – when the leaves fall, it’s time to fly to the sun.

Naturally we fly. The trip is a big part of the holiday but the biggest part starts when you arrive. Anyway, flying is the best method of transport I’ve ever heard of. We like to get there, pronto. And the views…. you can look down on clouds or fields, on water or desert. Doesn’t much matter because the view is always brilliant and you’re heading into the sun. Sweet joy. Except once, when there was a big storm and we got diverted. That wasn’t any fun, in fact it was quite frightening. Thought we were going to go down, straight into the ocean. No fond memories of that trip! But we made it. Had a stop-over at a small island and then resumed our journey. Gave us something to tell the grand-kids I suppose.   

Yes, we’re all going on a summer holiday. I tried whistling it but I don’t have that sort of musical ability. My old girl says I sound more like a crow with a worm stuck in its throat. Well, you can’t be good at everything. I’m a good provider, not lazy. Always up with the lark, as they say. In fact, I’m a real go-getter. Well, the early bird catches the worm and if you sit back in life you get nothing. And you do need reserves because it’s a long flight and it costs a lot to do it. Some never get the chance. I feel sorry for them. Never tripping across the world. Hell, some never leave their own little towns. Not forgetting those locked up behind bars for life. Sorry, got a bit maudlin there.   There’s always going to be jailbirds, those with illness, some who just don’t have the resources to leave.  You can’t help them, just appreciate your luck in life. Appreciate your life, however it is. That’s a bit deep isn’t it. But true. I might just repeat it.

Appreciate your life, however it is.

And that’s what we’re doing. Flying to the warmer climes. Holidaying in the sun. And we’re going to enjoy it. I am going to enjoy it.  Especially, because it will be my last trip. Haven’t told the family yet but I think my wife suspects. Yes, it will be my last trip. I doubt that I’ll even make it home. It’s not only my legs that are suffering. My wings don’t beat that well any more and I tire more easily. No, I shan’t be coming back. This is one tern that won’t re-turn.

But I shall enjoy this summer holiday.