S t r e
t c h i n g
the
Good Times
For
good times think holidays. That isn’t
the only kind of good time, but it is an easy example with which to work. Holidays
are good for a number of reasons: a change is as good as a rest; escape from a
taxing daily routine; or a chance to see or do something that you would not
ordinarily do. An event, say a two-week-camping trip, is enjoyable. By itself,
that experience is a short-changed pleasure. If you are extremely busy maybe
that’s all you can squeeze out of your schedule. If not, then explore two other
options to expand the satisfaction of the holiday. Those options? Plan and
anticipate the event. Two after the event review and record the highlights in
an album, a power point, or on Facebook. An annual celebration of an event like a
family reunion enables the joys to live on for years.
In
my novel, Baggage Burdens.
expanding
the joy of some good times brings about a needed balance to stressful lives. One such example
occurs when Jill suggests to Joseph, her husband, that the family goes to
Disneyland for spring break. Here’s how each of them increases the hours of joy
from their Disney holiday.
After reminding Joseph how much fun
they had in Hawaii, Jill introduces the possibility of the family going to
Disneyland. “It could be a family Christmas present that we take in mid-March.”
Seeing no hint of disapproval, she asks
if she should do the research so they can discuss it in more detail the
following week. He agrees. The next day, Jill looks into accommodations,
flights, and surrounding attractions. She doesn’t Google Disneyland. She’d
already done that before asking Joseph about the holiday. A possible itinerary
and a budget are prepared.
Jill's presentation begins with the thrills she knows will excite the
children. Hoping they’ll stay a whole week, she shows other
highlights—Universal Studios, the Pirate Dinner, the Medieval Times Dinner, the
San Diego Zoo, and Safari Park and Sea World
in San Diego. She eyes Joseph, trying to gauge his reaction. He only asks a few
questions. A slight smile encourages her to continue. Nervously, she scrolls to
the page with the estimated costs. Without a word, she slides the screen in
front of him and studies his reaction.
His eyes are fixed on the screen. She
lets him digest the numbers.
He
reads so slow.
She says, “Of course we don’t have to
do everything that’s on the list. I thought I should give you the whole picture
so we could decide what we most wanted to do. What do you think?”
When he finally looks up, he’s smiling.
Jill is relieved.
“You really enjoyed putting this
presentation together, didn’t you?”
“Yes,” says Jill, impatient for his
decision.
“I’ll bet the children would enjoy
doing this kind of research.”
Jill agrees.
“I suppose after Christmas they can put
together some kind of scrapbook of their research of what they can expect to see when
we go. Then they can have the same thrill you had. It would be a great way of
extending their excitement.”
 |
Together, Amber and Sarah flip the box
over, pulling the rest of the Christmas wrapping paper off. They find a CD,
which Jill taped to the bottom.
The three children crowd around the
little desk by the living room wall. Impatiently they urge the computer to
reveal its secret. Jill’s opening slide in her PowerPoint announces “A Family
Holiday in March.” Shouts of joy greet the second slide. It shows the entrance
to Disneyland. Succeeding slides of Disney theme parks and reviews steal the
desire for breakfast.
The following Wednesday and Sunday evenings open briefly. The whole family
gathers around the computer and researches what they can look forward to when
they fly to Anaheim.
A kaleidoscope of photos of Disneyland,
Sea World, Medieval Times Dinner, and the San Diego Zoo appear, sparking
stories of fun and laughter. The rich resource of captured memories provides
the material that the children use to create their own PowerPoint expressions
of their March holiday, expressions that serve to entertain Daniel and Eve,
Thomas and Rebecca, Mary and Ed, and Bill.
Several times during the summer
holidays, Bill sees their PowerPoint files. He enjoys their work so much that
Amber creates a DVD and gives it to him. In response, he invites the family out
for dinner.
haiku capsule:
creating albums
power point presentations
reliving good times.
Next blog:: Resisting
Temptation
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