Upbeat Family, Life & Living 2019


My Fantasy Vacation I


by Gabriel A. Fraire of Healdsburg, CA ~ gafraire@comcast.net


used to hate vacations. I was 35 years old before I even took my first one.


Of course, my wife is quick to point out that I was also 35 years old before I had a job long enough to qualify for one, but that’s another story. Being a par-


ent, one day off is considered a vacation and I was in line for a day off. My wife had plans to take the kids for an overnight adven- ture with her and grandma. I planned to go


to the library and walk right past the children’s department. I planned to go to a bookstore or actually any store and not


have to worry about buying something just because some- one else needed it. I planned to walk around


without my head on a swivel, my hair full of sticky stuff and my arms full of kids. And the ultimate fantasy: I planned to go to sleep when I was tired and wake up when rested. Any par- ent will tell you what a dream that can be.


People with-


out children tried to convince me to go, “do some- thing.” I gave up


trying to explain, that in our house with two working adults and two small children, we are always “doing something.”


There isn’t one waking mo- ment when your body isn’t in motion with your mind about a half a step behind. I was set. I was ready. The


day came. The kids dressed, the car was packed. I waved as they drove down the road and disappeared over a hill. I went inside, lay down on


the couch to think of what I would like to do and fell asleep and slept most of the day. Best vacation ever.


Gabriel A. Fraire has been a writer more than 45 years. He has written fiction and non-fiction books, plays, po- ems, music lyrics, and news articles. But, he writes about his children exclusively for the Upbeat Times.


It’s Pet Dental Month At Western Farm Center!


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Since 1967 we’ve been the favorite place to shop for your pets & farm animals!


Vaccination clinics every Sunday from


“What the mind can conceive and believe, and the heart desire, you


can achieve.” Norman Vincent Peale


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UPBEAT TIMES, INC. • February 2019 • 7


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