It’s just about eleven hours ’til we leave on our first vacation in almost two years. Between cancer, a new gig, and a variety of little distractions along the way, we haven’t been able to break away from our day-to-day life.

Until tomorrow, that is.

Tomorrow, Darla and I embark on our first trip to Florida together. Anyone who’s read this blog for a while knows that I name the big trips. The folks at work have helped nickname this one the “I Don’t Need a Bucket List” journey. I kinda like that. I don’t need a bucket list. Too young, too many miles yet to go.

We’re heading to a little town called Matlacha, which just a wiggle away from my grandparents’ place in Bokeelia. I spent a ton of summer and winter days at their place, and loved that area. For health reasons, they moved back to Tennessee about thirty years ago, and, with the exception of a short business trip in the 90s, I haven’t visited Florida since.

I know this journey is gonna stir up some ghosts for me, but I also think it’ll be very therapeutic. I’m in need of a break from my day-to-day world, and just need to decompress and unwind. That’ll come through some guitar playing, some fishing, and just watching the water go by. Regardless of the activity, this trip will help exorcise some demons for me, and let me get some well-needed R&R.

Look out Florida — one of your own is coming home for a couple of weeks!