East Coast Adventure
Due to the pandemic, it has been two years since I have last seen my parents. Now that we are all fully vaccinated, I was finally able to make the trip out to Boston to see them again and it was bittersweet! It felt like no time has passed at all due to the benefits of Facetime and the unchanging dynamics and quirks of a mother-daughter relationship. With my flexible schedule, I bought a one-way flight and decided that I would figure out my return while in Boston.
In the past year of the pandemic, I have grown so much because I was forced to do a lot of introspection and self-reflection in quarantine. I continued therapy during the pandemic consistently, which I had not done since I was in my twenties. Turns out, I still had a lot to learn. Therapy is not a one-time class and there is no cap on growth. Had my mother noticed while I visited? Maybe. Maybe not. Did it matter? Not really because all of that self-work was done for me. Although I do think it benefits everyone around me.
During my visit, we ate so much good food! My mother and I both cooked different dishes for each other to try. We had wine and dessert every night. I hosted at-home happy hours with charcuterie boards and cocktails. I made a surf and turf al fresco lunch for my parents and my sister on Mother’s Day. I planned a road trip with my parents up the coast of Maine to visit Acadia National Park. We stopped in Portland on the way there and had lunch at Eventide Oysters, which was amazing. We stayed overnight in Rockland and enjoyed a lovely farm-to-table dinner at Primo. Maine was a fun weekend adventure and I’m grateful I had the opportunity to experience it with my parents because they would not have done a road trip on their own.
For a brand collaboration, I stayed in The South End in Boston for a couple nights at Stay Pineapple Boutique Hotel. It was a nice break from staying at my parents’ and it felt good to have my own space again. While staying in the city, I went on a solo date at Barcelona Wine Bar, ordered everything, and had a wonderful time with myself. I also dined at Toro, Ostra, and Row 34 during my visit and all of them were delish. I love seafood and ordered crudo at every restaurant. It was so fun to be a tourist in my own city. I am convinced that the northeast has the best food.
Even though I had a great trip, I physically struggled everyday throughout my visit because of the pollen dust storms. My allergies totally kicked my butt. My allergist has once told me that I’m the worst he’s ever seen, and pills don’t help. Every day, I was drained and exhausted from just being outside for an hour or two and would feel compelled to nap afterwards. In addition to sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, itchy face, and itchy internal body, allergies also give me brain fog and extreme fatigue. I really could not function. I’m envious of people who don’t suffer from allergies!
After almost three weeks away, I am finally back home. My body feels better and lighter. I am starting to feel like myself again. Back in my personal space with all my comforts and routine. It was a great trip and fun little adventure, but three weeks was a long time to be away especially after over one year of quarantine. I’m still adjusting to life, normalcy, and reemergence into society, which can be draining. Everything just feels extra nowadays. So I am going to listen to my body and give myself the rest of the week to recover.