I took an entire day off yesterday. Off from being a mom. Off from responsibilities. Off from school. Like, totally off.

I was strolling through an Italian villa nestled into the cliff side of Palos Verdes. The grounds were exquisite and the waves crashing on the rocks below were stunning; beauty at its finest. Usually it’s creation that sticks with me, but not this time. As I let my mind roll over memories that were made yesterday, it is a different picture that stayed with me.

Before heading out for a hike,  John and I decided to run back to the car to grab some blankets and water. As we were waiting for valet to bring the car around, we could hear children laughing and squealing from a distance away. Sure enough, a golf cart designed to bring drivers to the front of the lobby pulled into view. The entire back two rows were stuffed with children. I mean, like four or five all squeezed in there, with the last row facing backwards. They were grinning from ear to ear, gripping each other intensely as they can to a stop. There was one little guys waving to onlookers, as if he was riding on a float in a parade.

I took the scene in, letting my eyes linger on their little faces and my ears take in their shrieks of delight.

When did we lose our love of riding on golf carts, I asked, not taking my eyes of the cart, I remember thinking how fun it was to ride in one of those. 

“I haven’t. I still love riding in golf carts,” John added. I glanced at him, planting a kiss on his cheek.

Getting ready to move, the cart lunged forward;the children gripped the rails, gripped each other and waved wildly as they pulled out of sight.  I took a death breath, I need to remind myself how I used to love the simple things. 

As we walked through the villa, making our way down to the start of the trails, we passed a steep hill of sprawling green grass. Staying on the path around this hill, I was looking out to where I could see the ocean in the backdrop. Beautiful. Just beautiful.

Walking hand in hand with John, I was enjoying the moment until I found myself being yanked off the path and down the hill! What the heck…

Before I knew it, John was leading the way, running down the hill with me in tow. Trying to get my feet underneath me, I finally caught up and began laughing as we picked up speed. We laughed and laughed as we slowed near the bottom.

And as I sit here thinking about this moment, it got me thinking, dear sisters, isn’t that what we need in our crazy stressed-filled lives? Don’t we need moments, little glimpses, of what it was like as a child? Carefree. Simple. Fun.

I want to do this more. Hanging off the end of a golf cart. Running down hills. Getting down on the floor and playing monopoly. Sleeping in a tent inside. Doing an arabesque down the hallway of a fancy hotel. (okay, so we might have done that too) Kissing a nose just because. Eating popcorn in bed. Running through sprinklers with our clothes on. Spraying whipping cream in our mouth.

Oh, dear sisters, let us not forget how to be young. How to enjoy life…. life as it was meant to be.

Full of joy. Full of laughter.