Easy come, Easy go...

Sometimes we wish for things to happen a certain way, and are disappointed when they do not.
It is an easy trap to fall into.

I am a staunch believer that everything happens for a reason.

Even when bad things happen, this is my belief.

Hurricane Irene made landfall on Saturday, August 28th, and just like that, our vacation was history.

Most of my husband's family were driving in from Baltimore to meet us. I had to make the unfortunate phone call, to deliver the difficult news.
We had planned on a week-long get-away. It would be the first time we would all be together, in one place. We had big plans to  hit the surf, tour Ocracoke Island, eat lots of delicious foods and spend hours catching up.
We were going to celebrate our niece's birthday, too.
Another time, perhaps.

In order to make it a nice trip, I had worked dutifully on finding a vacation rental on Cape Hatteras Island, North Carolina. For weeks I looked at rates, locations and houses.
I weighed pool vs. hot tub; porch swing vs. rooftop deck.
I kept narrowing down the selection field.

I looked at mansions, modest homes and beach bungalows.
I saw houses as green as Irish grass, the most vivid blues, and everything in between.

All the houses had  special names. There was Mermaids Tears, Edgewater, Dolphin Dream and the one that caught my attention out of all the others, Happy Days.

It is not the largest of homes, or the smallest. It is not the most or least expensive. It  just seemed to call out to me. After all, what does one want from a vacation but happy days...

I will miss lounging on the wrap-around porch, under the lazy sun, in the afternoons.

I will miss rising early to hear the surf pound the shore and the birds calling out to one another. 

I will yearn for the leisurely walks I will not be taking down the narrow pathway leading from the house to the beach.

I will pine for family meals served in the inviting dining area.

I will always wonder how many stars I would be able to see in the Cape Hatteras sky.

I will dream of the sound-side and ocean views I could espy from the artists loft...if only I were there.

I am grateful that we did not lose our lives like so many others did, because of the hurricane.

 I am thankful that we were all out of the path of any major damage.

I am saddened that we missed out on our trip this year, but we will be back!
We will always be in need of some Happy Days!