He who returns from a journey is not the same as he who left.  — Chinese Proverb

As the majority of you know, I tend to send my attitude and life outlook on a roller coaster of emotion and nonsense. I rarely can dictate if I’m happy or if I’m content, actually sad or stressed, depressed or jealous, etc…so I usually live through the “expect the worse, but hope for the best” mentality which comes off as my friends like to bitch at me about, “miserable.”  Yet, for the last 5 years, I have managed to manipulate nothing but greatness into my life plan/attitude for 9-10 solid days (reality hits REALLY hard at the end [...see, I had to put a negative on a positive]). Some of you may be saying, “Ya, it’s called a vacation…you idiot.” And to you, I say “suck it…it’s more than that.” It’s a combination of things that make me happy to be alive and things that make me not scared to die.

It’s time to play a game. Get out a piece of paper and pen, and write down 10 words/short phrases that put you in your “happiest of all happy places.”  Okay, you got it? Here’s mine…  -  Beach.   Family.   Friends.   Alcohol.   Live Music.   Beach Bars.   Outdoors.   Not a care in the world.   Good Times.   Reminiscing.  (all will be present at my wedding, if I ever decide to take that path) -  I’m not saying you should agree with me, but that’s one hell of a list…and, well, you should agree with me (at least 6 or 7 have got to be similar).  Okay, now in order for you to win at this game…you have to go plan your ten things into 10 days of awesomeness, and overlapping themes is strongly encouraged… I am going into my fifth year of “winning,” which starts tomorrow. It’s really a get-away like this, that puts what really matters in life into perspective.

Anyways, my 10 days consists of:

Day 1 – Day 5, Beach with Family: Going to the beach with the majority of my family (immediate fam, cousins, aunts, uncles, etc.). We soak up the sun and appreciate boredom by day and hit a few beach bars by night. It’s one of rare occasions where I wake up/goto bed without a care in the world. Following our Irish heritage, alcohol is mixed in and Remember When stories keep the laughter alive. As an added bonus, Country Roads is usually heard wherever we go. The 5 day venture is ideally planned before I am on my last nerve with some and have all but my hands around their neck (metaphorically).

Day 6 – Day 9/10, Jambo with Friends: I have nearly turned the process into a ritual/routine. On the drive back I always stop to get some fresh watermelons so that I can soak them in Watermelon vodka for Jambo. I round up my supplies and food, then it’s off to The Superbowl of Country Music, where the live music is unbeatable. It’s a four day festival in the great outdoors; where I surround myself with my closest friends, bullshit about all the memories we have previously made, throw some back Miller Lites, appreciate what country music really is, and just soak in the goooooood times. (I truly kept that modest and PG…)

While it is a selfish personal appreciation, it’s what makes me who I am. If it’s good enough to make me feel alive, then it’s good enough to be able to die tomorrow… or preferably, in 10 days, when I get back.

Your Favorite Drinking Buddy,

Pauly