Gray Vacation

At the moment I am on vacation. I’m supposed to have time to go to the beach, or to a hotel to enjoy with my family. The weather is perfect for that—for enjoying the sun’s rays and the blessed seawater.

However, I think the only pleasure during this vacation will be waking up a few minutes later. I like getting up early. It’s something I’ve gotten used to. But somehow, doing it later these days reminds me a little of when I was younger, and my eyes only opened after 10 in the morning.

Another reason I got up later is simply that there isn’t much to do. At least at home. That’s why I’ve decided to help my sister with her small business, to see if together we can make a few extra bucks that are always welcome.

She is always overwhelmed with everything at home and never has time for her household obligations. I think it will do her good if I help with her business errands. We both win: I clear my mind, and she gains time for her own things.

As people say around here, you don’t really take vacations—you just change jobs. Historically, people in Cuba use these few days off work to solve problems and run errands. And in the end, when they return to work, they are more tired than before going on vacation.

When I graduated, I thought I would enjoy good vacations every time I had the chance. But each year it becomes harder to achieve that goal. I think one of the best vacations I had was last year at my in-laws’ house. I’ve always liked going there. It’s a pleasant town with many options for eating and resting.

They already called me, but transportation refuses to grant me that wish. Fuel is too expensive, and therefore the fare also costs me a fortune. It’s one problem after another, and in the coming months it won’t be resolved either. I don’t like to complain, but even I, with enough psychological resources, have felt on the verge of tears these days on several occasions.

I know I’ll have my chance to get out of this rut, and that’s what consoles me for now. Who knows—maybe during this vacation I’ll finally find my path to prosperity.

_{English isn't my native language. Text translated with DeepL}