The title says it all and I can’t be the only one who agrees here. I love looking back at a long trip and reveling in the great things we did and saw but there’s nothing quite like settling into your own bed the first night back and just feeling normal again.

I’m the only one up, sipping my coffee, and easing back into regular life. I loved how on vacation, all that disappeared. But now it’s time to go back to bills and work and school and this Florida heat. So, in summation, I wanted to go over some of the best parts of the trip.

• Really appreciate that we were able to see my brother-in-law and his family. I’ve known him nearly as long as my husband (of course) and we have a shared history. His two children were so cool to hang out with and his wife was so welcoming, considering we have been suspect of her in the past. I loved seeing their little Chicago neighborhood, sitting out on their back deck, and just being with comfortable people; family.
• After that portion of the trip, my brain kept bulleting major things my kids got to do there that were different for them: ride on the trains, see Millennium Park (the Bean), see Lake Michigan, play at a public fountain, walk alone, safely to a neighborhood co-op, meet their Italian au-pere and learn about Italy. Such cool experiences.
• Our one night in Milwaukee was cool for me and Ash; not sure about the kids except they ordered wings while we went to the breweries and then it turned out one of their fave Youtubers had been in Chicago one day after us and then Milwaukee, and he ALSO ordered from the same wing place.
• The cottage we stayed at next to the Maumee River was nothing truly special but just waking up each day to the serene and idyllic views was refreshing. Plus, out there, everything is so spread out. To get to any neighboring town, we literally drive through cornfields where each intersection seems to appear out of nowhere. Such different landscaping for us. But against the close buildings of every major city we visited it is very different. Here, everything seems perfectly spaced.
• The last 12 hours have been jarring for me, as I reintegrate into regular life. I am taking today to catch up on a looong list of things.
• Said list includes: getting gas for the mower so the boys can work on this mess of a yard, vacuuming the pool, finishing laundry, finding some forms I need going forward in the next month (in the drawer of lost things in the kitchen; everyone has one, right?), organizing the fall calendar for dance, soccer, cross country, and all the other junk that’s coming up like a wedding, a beer festival, my son’s 16th birthday, a concert at month’s end, etc. It’s a lot!