Yes, salty ocean air can be healing!

Hey fam,

Have y'all ever heard of people retiring to the sea to feel better and cure ailments? I have been convinced after last weekend, that this is true! Here's what happened...

On Thursday and Friday I had sniffles. I attributed them to allergies. I am still allergic to every tree, plant, bush, flower, and shrub that grows here. I do think it's getting better and we keep buying local honey! Anyway, all the sneezing and sniffling that was happening I thought was allergies. And maybe it was. However, on Saturday morning I woke up a mess!

Sore throat, headache, sneezy, sniffly, no fever, aches, pains- all the things. I literally just sat on the couch all day. Wrapped in a blanket. Drinking soup, napping and watching pbs cooking shows. On one hand, the rest part was a delight! On the other hand, I felt miserable. This presented a small situation as we had plans for a mini road trip on Sunday.

Months ago we found a fantastic discount on a hotel on the beach in Seaside, OR. It was non refundable. Hence, the deal. We knew it was risky, but it was only one day! And I have been fanatic about cleaning everything, staying away from sick people, washing my hands, washing the kids hands, sanitizing and saging the house, you name it, I have been doing it. And I thought I had escaped! Most of my co-workers had been sick and were better. The kids and Matt were sick and were better. But there I was, on the couch, not looking forward to riding in the car several hours.

The kids are wise in their words and rationale. "Momma, you can be sick on the couch or sick at the beach. You love the ocean!" They are not wrong. Sunday morning, I felt a little bit better, at least well enough to get in the car. I don't know if it was the thought of the beach, or the sun that greeted us so warmly as we drove away from the gray, but I did start to feel better!

We made a stop at the Lewis and Clark nat'l forest, learned about a slave named York who was the key in their journey across the country. We checked into the hotel and it really was on the beach! Pictures can lie and it was a lovely surprise to see the pictures were truthful in location. And I got to nap some more!!!! Matt and the kids went swimming, I slept. We ate lunch, then I slept. Breathing in salty, ocean air the whole time. By Monday morning, I almost felt like myself again!

We did a small hike up a huge hill to see the Cape Disappointment lighthouse before heading home. I think it was the combo of ocean and sun that sped up my recovery. Or maybe all the rest and tea and not having to clean anything or think about house projects. I couldn't see baseboards that needed cleaning or laundry that needed to be folded while in the hotel room! So felt no pressure to do any of those things. Amazing!

Today, the girls are still off from school thanks to the district extending the holiday weekend. And I get to be at home one more day. I think I'll ask them to fold the laundry though ;-)