Benefits Beyond

I do my best to plan vacations well.

This trip, though, surpassed my skill,
As if God took my meager efforts and
Magnified them.

Not only the weather, which could not be more perfect.

But that I hadn’t registered for a trip the first day:
The seas were so choppy, it wouldn’t have happened anyway,
But who needs the stress?

But that the first excursion we took,
Not only took us to an unexpected treat,
“The only fjord on the East Coast”
(though it is really a “fjard,” lacking steep sides),
But also so thoroughly explained all the islands
And landmarks in Frenchman Bay,
We received the benefit the rest of the week.

But that the sea kayaking, the day we went,
Had perfect tides for us to circle Bar Island,
That those who went enjoyed it so thoroughly.

But that we had a good number of activities,
And that by letting the family self-select
Which ones they wanted to do,
Everyone was happy almost all of the week.

But that we reached the little train five minutes before it left,
But that we reached the observatory and had a short wait,
But that between us all we found take-out food,
But that we made our flight with five minutes to spare,
But that tempers stayed calm and cousins played well,
But that the amusements we brought were sufficient and fun.

For these, and more that I am surely forgetting,
I give thanks.