The Taste of Vacation

One of the last things I did on my vacation is something I haven’t done since I lived in Japan: I made a big pot of curry.
Curry is one of those dishes that evokes a plethora of sentimental memories and can awaken experiences from long ago. I can feel the humid heat of Nara under my T-shirt, and taste the hot green tea accompanying it. I can see the perfect triangular slices of watermelon, an ice cold treat that waits on plates in the center of a communal table patiently waiting to be enjoyed after the curry. This is but one of those memories.
While enjoying doing the things that I do on my time off, I not only remember, but if I am successful at relaxing, I forget.
This vacation has imparted a beneficial sort of amnesia on me, allowing me to forget work almost completely. I forgot the things that stress me out, the things that make me frustruated, and the things that make me tired. I also forgot the things that I look forward to doing, dependable co-workers, and to some extent, work friends. This is not to say these things are not important to me. I am still mindful of my work culture and environment, it’s just that everything is pushed to the way-back of my mind into storage.
I’ve been enjoying a vacation from my vacation, something that I’ve always wanted to do but have, up until this point, not been able to experience. The transition between vacation and work is often abrupt, jarring, and to some extent a traumatic experience. I’ve been able to hang out, go outdoors, stock up on groceries, cook, read, watch TV, catch up on correspondence, and generally digest my vacation. Like a well crafted culinary treat, this break left a pleasant lingering flavor that I was able to truly savor until the very end.
I have no regrets for this vacation, and thanks to the latter part of my time off I will have curry to enjoy well into my work week.