The Upside of the Downside

It’s not everyday you can please everyone in a family of five by getting in the car, driving somewhere, and spending five hours in a town you love and hate at the same time.  But we did just that today, each of us had our own version of how the day went down and each one was equally fantastic. 

FIL invited DH to play in a Father/Son golf tournament today in Taos.   This was something they both really needed to do….DH needed to know that FIL understands his passion for golf and realizes how good he really is, and with FIL moving and us possibly moving, who knows when they’d have a chance to do something like this again.  More importantly, with some of the chaos and turmoil of the last year behind us now, those two desperately needed to be “father” and “son” and enjoy some time together without business talk.

The kids needed it too.  We went with DH and had an all day picnic with MIL at the park.  They’ve been needing some run around and be as wild as you want time, and two of their cousins were also there.  Again, with MIL and FIL moving we have to take advantage of these times. 

I needed it too.  I hated living in Taos.  I mean really, really despised it.  And I’ve been sad about that ever since I left.  As a kid, my parents and I went skiing there every year and those trips are some of my favorite memories.  But living in a place you love to visit doesn’t always work out the way you intend, sort of that “too much of a good thing” thing.  Today I got to experience Taos the way I always loved to, as a visitor.  I loved the energy on the Plaza, relished every drop of my Amaretto Latte from World Cup Coffee, a very funky and hip coffee place, and I saw the breathtaking scenery with all the mountains, aspens, and river the way they should be seen; wonder and awe at God’s magnificence and appreciation for the fact that not everyone gets to soak in this piece of Heaven on Earth.

At the end of the day, I’m pooped.  We left at 7am for a three hour drive, played in the park all day, picked DH up and drove another three hours home.  But it was so worth it, and I think we’ll all remember today for our own reasons.