The blank page stares back at me as I wonder what I should write. I haven’t written anything, not a single word since Wednesday night. This is the first time since February that I haven’t written something every day. And with this break I’m unsure how to get back to writing, how to get my voice back, how to pick up where I left off.

I’ve been on a 12 day vacation with my kids. It was the culmination of a very long, eventful summer, and the past 5 days it has been more important for me to be present than to work on my personal goals. This summer we’ve spent time with family and friends, and attempted to satisfy the wanderlust my children have been feeling, wanting to explore new places.

This trip is both an ending and a beginning.

My 17 year old niece had spent 6 weeks with us, and although it was important for her that I spend every possible moment with her, I was able to continue toward my goals, fitting my writing in when I could, either before she woke up or while I was supposed to be working. This most recent trip began by returning her home to NH, where the girls and I stayed with my sister and her husband.

My sister, my niece, my two girls and I then spent 5 very tiring days up in the White Mountains of NH. We didn’t have time to do everything we wanted to do, but we made every second count. We hiked trails, discovered waterfalls, climbed rocks, waded in ice cold mountain water, took the gondola to the top of Loon Mountain, explored caves, climbed endless stairs at Lost River and took the train to the top of Mount Washington. We went kayaking and swam in the lake. We laughed, we danced, we played games, we sang songs. We thoroughly enjoyed being together, just the 5 of us, fully aware this might be the last trip exactly like this, as my niece turns 18 in February.

Through it all I continued to write and post every day, in spite of waking up ungodly early to go running with my sister…even though I do not run, and I certainly don’t run outside, and I definitely don’t run up and down hills…we ran, we hiked, we walked…every morning going 5-6 miles before the kids even woke up for the day. And still I wrote. I wasn’t always thrilled with the quality of my writing but I persisted.

In NH I saw my mother, my father, my nephew, and friends. I was busy every minute of every day and still managed to post right up through Wednesday. Thursday I could have continued, but instead I decided I wanted to be present. I wanted to enjoy my last day in NH with my sister and my niece as we went to Odiorne State Park, had one last dinner with my family before heading out on our next adventure…because that wasn’t the end.

Friday morning the girls and I flew to Baltimore Washington International for the second part of our vacation….a part the girls have been looking forward to for a long time. From BWI we took the train to Washington DC. It was the first time any of us had been. It was also their first ride on a real train, which may have been the most exciting part for them. We walked and walked and walked. We averaged around 10 miles a day for 3 days. We didn’t see nearly everything in the 4 days we were there, but it was enough. A friend met us there as well which added to the excitement.

Then finally, after 3 nights in DC we took the train back to BWI and spent the night at a nearby hotel before flying home today.

As I’ve said, I could have written through all of that, or most of it at least, but sometimes being present is also perfect. So I need to get back to my story. I’m definitely behind, and while I’m loath to cheat and do two word prompts with one post…and with a post that isn’t related to my story…I’m going to do it. I may come back to these words with a future post, or I may just pick up with tomorrow’s word. I will decide as it comes to me.

This post is in response to the daily writing prompt Loath and Wanderlust.