A Perfect Day

Today was a perfect day. Perfection by my definition any way. As 2017 draws to a close, how grateful I am for a perfect day.

And I realize my perfect day is really, really simple. But wow, what happiness it brings.

After the excitement and awesomeness of Christmas, my crew flew to San Diego to meet my family for a beach vacation. We are scattered from Seattle to Dallas to Missouri, so getting together is a treat. And oh so very important to me.

The last few years we’ve gathered in Seattle and headed to snow in Suncadia. This year, after we got a safe flight with my youngest (after a few flights with seizures and grounding for several years) under our belt this summer, we decided to head south for a west coast vacation this Christmas. I’m so grateful my family meets us where we can go.

And what fun we have had! Fifteen family members who love each other dearly and have such a great time. The past few days have been full of adventure – surfing lessons for my big kids, lots of beach time for all, a group trip to Sea World and swimming with dolphins for the big kids, and big family dinners. We optimize for fun and adventure over pomp and circumstance, so family dinners have been BBQ night, pizza night, taco truck night, and Whole Foods lasagna night. But who cares?? We’re too busy having fun to shop and cook.

But today was a chill day for my family, joined by my oldest nephew. The rest of the crew hit Lego Land and we opted for a chill day at the beach. Which created the perfect setting for…the perfect day.

It started early…when I got up with my youngest. And then I went back to sleep and slept late, which next to never happens. Such.a.luxury. What a gift it is to be well-rested! Then I enjoyed two cups of perfect coffee, in a perfectly quiet beach house, while I started a book I had been saving as the perfect beach read (A Stranger in the House by Shari Lapena. I had read her book The Couple Next Door and loved it. Both are thrillers, addicting, and very fast reads).

Then I went for a run – longer than I expected because I got a bit lost (of course) but enjoyed a return four miles on perfectly packed sand along the ocean. The sun was shining. The temperature was perfect for running (~70 degrees) and I soaked up every second.

Next was the perfect avocado toast. My family had hit the beach already, so I enjoyed my brunch in my peaceful house and then joined them.

And then I had the best beach day. I read my book. I love reading a great book in a day. I read fast, but rarely get the opportunity to read a book in one sitting. There was boogie boarding and hole digging and childlike beach fun. There was day dreaming and dolphin watching. There was Corona Light enjoying. It was perfect.

In the words of the brilliant Zac Brown “I got my toes in the water, ass in the sand.
Not a worry in the world, a cold beer in my hand. Life is good today, life is good today.”

All true – except my ass was in a beach chair. Perfection.

Next the most brilliant sunset. Which can take my breath away. Every.single.time.

Then my entire family came from their condos to our beach house for dinner. We laugh. Tell stories. Enjoy dinner and have a few drinks. I love every minute surrounded by my favorite people in the entire world. Perfection.

I realize for me a perfect day is a day surrounded by people I love. A great run on the beach. Wearing running clothes or a swimsuit for the entire day – not getting dressed until dinner. A perfectly cold beer on the beach with the perfect book. Beautiful views. And the blissful gratitude of knowing that you are in the midst of the perfect day. You know it and you love it. 

Perfection.