I thought I'd made peace with the fact he wasn't in my life, once finally realized it's okay to distance yourself from some people...even family. Especially if that relationship threatens your mental and emotional well-being. (Can you tell I'm married to a therapist?)
But a few months ago all that false bravado came crashing down on me. Turns out when you hear the words "Stage 4" and "metastasized," all the rationale you've been clinging to just evaporates. The reasons I kept my distance suddenly felt small and insignificant. This was my father, the man who loves me even if he doesn't know how to show it, the man who wants the very best for me, even if he doesn't say it.
I tried to play it cool and stay in denial, but life was having none of that, and soon enough I was booking a last-minute trip to California to see him. (There are worse places to reconcile with your dad, right?!) On the flight over, my friend Erika posted this, and it spoke directly to my heart.
Sure enough, the moment I laid eyes on him, all was forgiven. Just like that, I let it go, and instantly felt lighter and happier. I no longer needed the big, heavy conversation, rehashing the past. I didn't want to look back...I could start fresh right in that moment.
My dad and I spent a lot of time just being together, reconnecting and recommitting. Mr. SP and I were able to enjoy the area some too, which really contributed to the whole healing experience. The weekend was liberating, yet exhausting...why is that always the case with emotional journeys?!
I can't do a travel-related post and not fill you in on what I packed, and tips on the area!
We spent time in Malibu, Summerland (a picturesque and charming town just south of Santa Barbara), and Manhattan Beach. The weather and beauty of Southern California totally helped to soothe our spirits.
Peach orchard in my friend's backyard. No big deal.
Thank you for your kind and thoughtful comments, emails, and texts in the past months, even though most of you didn't know what I was going through, I felt your support. And thank you to my mom and stepdad who stepped up without hesitation to watch the kids so we could take this unexpected trip. It really does take a village, and we are blessed with ours.
Now for the details of our trip...first up, my travel uniform.
{Where We Stayed & Ate}
The Anza Hotel - Calabasas
Malibu hotels are hard to come by, so we stayed one night in nearby Calabasas.
We didn't see any Kardashians, but we were impressed with this comfy hotel.
It has several good restaurant options within walking distance, including Pedalers Fork, where we had an amazing breakfast.
Sea View Inn - Manhattan Beach
We had an early departure from LAX, and this little gem is a short 15-minutes away. For an unbelievably fair rate, we got an ocean-view room that included bikes, beach chairs & towels, and free parking. (A rarity in the LA area.) Some of the rooms haven't been updated yet, so ask to see a few before settling in.
The street is lined with restaurants, and we especially loved Fishbar for dinner.
Hermosa Beach Pier is a short bike ride away.
This is by no means a comprehensive travel post on Southern California...but I wanted to share the little treasures we discovered. Turns out Erika was right, forgiveness really is the key to life's happiness.
Sidenote: Most of the pictures in this post were taken with my new Samsung Galaxy Camera, and it rocks! Oh, and one of you lucky ducks will win one later this week, because I'm giving this $500 camera away! (Not mine, I'm not that nice...but another one.)
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