SUMMER ’23 — The Feeling of Vacation

WHY WILL EVERYTHING BE THIS WAY?

It was a gloomy beginning of February.
Long after Christmas.
And with what felt like “forever” still to go until Spring.

It was raining.

Letting my gaze wander through the rain-streaked window,
I felt my thoughts drifting
through questions of “What hasn’t been done?”,
“What hasn’t been thought of?”,
“What hasn’t been answered?” —
and almost to the second, my good mood
went to the dogs.

Feeling the sour mood settling into the frown taking up residence on my forehead,
I decided to fix the situation.

I opened the blue screen and in the search bar
typed a “code”: “direct flights.”

Immediately, I was asked to specify a date.
“What do I know,” I thought to myself,
“let it be the date reserved for my ‘I’m not going anywhere’ plan — my birthday week.”

The little spinning wheel on the screen paused for a moment
and then presented me with options.

Oh, Cyprus!

I clapped my hands, and continuing the “I’m not going anywhere” thought,
entered the region of the island I knew.

What I saw
wiped the rain from both my thoughts and the windows.

Right there in first place, wagging its tail before my eyes,
was SUCH A PLACE FOR ME.

After scrolling through the first few photos,
I immediately went to my husband with my “I’m not going anywhere” plan.

Many thoughts followed:
“Maybe here?” “Or there?” “Or what about that?”

But nothing I saw was as much
MY TRUE SUMMER
as that first glimpse —
a sight I simply could not unsee.

And so — here I am.

Settled into the outdoor terrace bathtub
of that “couldn’t-unsee” place.
With a breathtaking sea horizon before me.
After yet another day when I felt myself becoming blissful.

Collecting seashells
that I already know I won’t even take home. Because I can’t.

Kayaking across barely rippling waves —
even though I was always convinced that such an activity wasn’t for me.

Reading not just one but two books I brought along —
though while packing them into my backpack,
I was certain I wouldn’t finish even one.

Sitting on the sand and gazing at the sea.
For a long time.
Even though, knowing my usual restlessness,
I can hardly sit still for five minutes.

Having found it by chance.
And deciding in an instant
that this would be “My Summer of True Vacation,”
I promised myself I would write the traditional
“Why will everything be this way?”

From the place itself.
When inspiration said “now.”

Greetings,
From a true holiday.

The one that so perfectly arranged
the feeling-plan of VASARYTĖ | 23,

V.