This Year

And to think, I almost didn’t go to Formentera. After a month of traveling I was feeling a bit tired and guilty, thinking I should get home to focus more on the things normal people do, like get up at the same time most days and go to work. But then I remembered that’s the reason I had never been to Formentera in the past, every single summer for the five past years that my dear friend Pauline has invited me along on her annual family trip there. Formentera became one of those things that we would talk about always saying “Oh yeah, next year.” Then I realized next year had been five years. Word of advice, when a friend offers you an island on the Mediterranean in their good company at the height of summer, do not wait five years. Forget work for a while, get on a plane, and go. Five minutes in Formentera was all it took for me to fall in love. We spent most days on a little scooter, Pauline driving of course as it is the birthright of the French to know how to drive one. On the back I had all the freedom to just look around and take it in, the beaches, the pink salt flats, the summer houses lining the dirt roads. At night, the caravan of cousins and I headed out to the island bars, but the best part each time was always getting there. Whoever didn’t fit in the family Deux Cheveux hopped on the scooters, and on the dark roads through the night I tipped my head back and watched the stars, holding on tight to Pauline as I was certain in that moment I could float away from the happiness that filled me. Formentera’s beaches are white sand with water so clear I could have never imagined. Warm air blows over the island from the north of Africa that isn’t far away, and everyone here seems like the happiest version of themselves. Everyday we slept in like teenagers, and when we got up the first order of business was to get to the sea and swim our hearts out enough to last us until next summer. This trip was so special though, I’m sure its memories will last me my whole life. My last night we sat at a bar on the beach and watched the full moon over the water. I took off my shoes and put my feet in the sand, and never wanted to part with this place or this moment. When I travel I leave a little piece of myself in each place, and take a memory in return. When we left I  was so at ease I completely forgot my shoes in the sand.  I’ll go back next year and get them. In the meantime, I left with so much more…