I loved my 10-speed bike. I rode it to the park, the swim center, my friend’s house. I even rode it to school one evening, without asking permission, to watch my 6th grade crush practice basketball. (I got in a lot of trouble for that one.) Bike riding was my hobby. I loved tearing through town. The best rides were the ones with no destination, the ones on which I could just coast, hands-free, and enjoy the scenery of my beautiful town.
Then my 10-speed got stolen. And then I started dating a guy with a license and a car. And then my best friend got her license and a car. And finally, I got my license. No more bike rides.
Then I went to college and got a bike because campus was huge. But then my bike got stolen.
Later on I moved to Maine and made daily bike trips to the beach, and I was reminded of why I loved it so much. But then my bike got stolen.
Then I had a baby and bike rides weren’t even on my radar. Until…
My daughter and I flew out to visit a childhood friend and her wife in Chicago. They got her a babysitter, and they got me a bike. Together, the three of us tore through the city on a cold November night, stopping to hydrate at the local tap rooms. It was a blast! The sights whizzing by, the wind in my hair, trusting my body to move in ways that I forgot it could. All good things, and all the result of being reminded of how I choose to love life.
Life is full of distractions and we can easily find ourselves out of our elements, and the things we love to do somehow get sidelined as the humdrum takes the field. The good news is that remembering how you love life is just like riding a bike. We can take off where we left off, we just need to start pedaling! It helps to have old friends who remind us of who we are, but how we love life should come as second nature. So get your wheels turning and reminisce about what makes you happy, then change gears, and enjoy the ride!
My first post was written just over a year ago. The pandemic had just begun, and people were starting to wonder how long it would actually last. “When will life be normal again?” “What is the new normal?” “When can I do the things I miss again?”
As we pick up speed, build up our endurance, and decrease our social distancing, I implore you to remember what you loved about this past year. I know that at some point you thought to yourself, “I’m so glad I have time to do this again,” or “Gosh, I haven’t done this since I was a kid!” Yes, it will be fantastic to attend concerts and festivals, Broadway shows and indoor sporting events, but it will also be wonderful to continue making time for hobbies, playing, finding beauty in nature, and pondering life’s greatest questions.
This evening, as my daughter and I headed home from one of my work events, and I was in my own world processing how the day went and creating a mental to-do list, she says, “It’s a lamp, and the Genie is coming out of it.” It took me a few seconds to connect the dots, but I got there. Up in the clouds was a genie and his lamp. And then the genie became a dragon. And the lamp morphed into a witch’s hat. And with the clouds, my work hangover floated away.
Get out and do the things you missed this past year, but not in exchange for the things you loved about this past year. Find a new way to balance your life. Keep your feet on the ground and your head in the clouds.
The theme of my blog posts is “finding happiness by wandering back to youth.” I’ve written before that I’m able to re-experience my childhood simply by playing with my child. I love introducing her to games I used to play, places I’ve been, and other activities in which I’ve participated. As a parent I experience déjà vu often; I re-live events, but this time around I get to do so through the spirit of my child, while reawakening my own child-like spirit.
As mentioned in my previous post, my daughter and I just traveled to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico for vacation. It was her first time leaving her home country; the first stamp in her passport. I knew the trip would be special, even if we just sat by the pool all day, but I wanted unique, unforgettable adventures for us. I didn’t want to be so busy going out to find food that we wouldn’t have time for fun, so I decided we would stay at an all-inclusive resort. I chose the Hotel Riu Palace Pacifico in the state of Nayarit. Everyone there was so friendly and accommodating. It was clean, and the food and drinks were delicious and plentiful.
The first day we took a taxi to Aquaventuras water park for a Dolphin Encounter. It was a Bucket List item for both of us. We stood side-by-side in the pool, and pet and played with Quintus the dolphin. To be able to enjoy the experience with my daughter, and to know she is just as grateful for the experience as I am, is a dream come true. We paid extra for the professional photos of our encounter, but we were allowed to stay and enjoy the water slides and a free lunch, so it all balanced out.
Bucket List: ✅
Afterwards, we took another cab downtown to the Malecón, a boardwalk with shopping, restaurants, and beautiful sculptures to enjoy. You can shop inside stores, or purchase items from the artists selling at outdoor stands. This is a great way to feel the city.
Sights on the Malecón
The next day we took a cab to meet the owner of Rancho El Charro, who then drove us the rest of the way to her horse ranch. When I traveled to the Dominican Republic back in 1998, my sister booked a horse ride along the beach, and it was such a wonderful experience, that I wanted my daughter to also have the opportunity. She and I rode into the Sierra Madres on a three-hour tour. It was so peaceful and beautiful, and she loved it.
If there’s a different mode of travel available to see the sights, take it!
Our last full day was to be spent relaxing by the pool and taking a dip in the Pacific. She had seen other girls getting their hair braided on the beach and asked if she could get her hair done. In the DR, I also got my hair braided, and loved it, so I just couldn’t say no. Afterwards, she met up with another 9-year old girl who was staying at the resort. They met the day we arrived and became fast friends. I had purchased a waterproof case for my phone, so they wanted to take some underwater photos in the pool. One photo had an uncanny resemblance to one of me taken over 20 years ago…
Double Take!
We left the next morning, but my daughter was desperate to say goodbye to her new friend. I couldn’t help but be reminded of the last time I saw my friend, Vanessa, back in first grade. My mom helped me to search high and low for her at the airport, with the hunt ending in a ladies restroom with a hug and a fracture in my heart. This is when it hurts to know how much my daughter is like me: we both love easily, making goodbyes that much harder. I stood by watching them hug goodbye, neither wanting to be the first to let go. She cried as I walked her to our taxi under my arm.
Fast Friends
Sometimes it’s heartwarming, and sometimes it creates heartache… seeing my reflection in the life of my child. I may have been where she is before, but together our feelings create a harmony, making a richer and brighter cover of an old song. Even the sad times are worth experiencing again, because it reminds me of my own wealth of emotions and ability to feel deeply and completely. If not for the capability to empathize, how else could I really share these experiences with my daughter?
Happy or sad, my memories make me who I am. And sometimes I like to be reminded of who that person truly is. This is why I make time to rendezvous with déjà vu.
Juvenescent Junkets 