A Salubrious Vacation
Botanical garden blooms, swimming pool dips & glittering boat rides in Naples, Florida.
Hello lovely readers! It’s a new month, and here in Virginia we are ushering in spring with a spectrum of tender buds, full blossoms and late bloomers. Last week was my daughter’s spring break, and we retreated to Naples, Florida to visit some dear friends and soak up some sunshine. It was such a special trip, and one of my souvenirs was the word salubrious, which inspired this week’s word essay. As always, thank you for being here!
SALUBRIOUS: favorable to or promoting health or well-being. (Source: Merriam-Webster)
After passing through the orchid-lined entrance to the Naples Botanical Garden, our foursome wended our way along the path, pausing to peep the tulip-silhouetted skirts of the New Guinea Trumpet Vines and admire the lily pad dotted pond and cascading inky black pools beneath, we arrived at a bench facing a small body of water. Ava and I had been eager to stretch our legs after our air travel to Naples, Florida, but it felt nice to pause and luxuriate in the company of our hosts and dear friends, John and Michael.
John reclined one arm along the back of the bench and said something like, “Isn’t this a salubrious activity?” John is a language lover like I am, but I confessed that I didn’t know the word salubrious. “It means health-giving,” he said. Though I didn’t know the definition, my body intuitively expressed its meaning. The relaxing of my shoulders as they shrugged off the weight of the previous week’s work and life demands, gulping in fresh air to fill my lungs after the stale recirculated air of airplanes and face masks. The majesty of the gardens in bloom made for a beautiful start to our spring sojourn, the word salubrious setting the tone for the other moments of health-giving vacation bliss.
Bending to breathe in the fragrance of a tropical bloom, giggling at Ava’s nose smudged golden with pollen.
Beholding the beauty of the orchids we saw at the botanical gardens and in Michael’s garden, so exquisite they looked hand-sculpted, some anointed with tiny brush strokes.
Slipping into our hotel pool early in the morning, Ava the first to ripple its glassy surface, paddling together from end to end chasing slats of sunshine.
Supping on fish tacos by the marina luxuriating in the unhurried pace, relishing the flaky morsels of blackened fish nestled in warm tortillas but savoring my company the most.
Feeling the sea breeze on our faces on a boat ride to ogle the architecture and gardens of the multi-million dollar homes, watching Ava toss her head as the wind whipped her hair into a frenzy.
Exclaiming at the dolphins smiling and winking as they loped through the water past our boat. Then shrieking with delight when a pair jumped out of the water, their silver bodies glistening in the sun, the water glittering like shattered diamonds below.
Combing the shore for sea shells, carefully rinsing our found treasure then running our fingers over their ruffled ridges, cradling curved conches in our cupped palms.
Sharing a picnic lunch on an oversize striped beach towel under an expansive blue sky, marveling at how much better sandwiches and potato chips and chilled grapes taste when eaten in proximity to salt water.
Floating on our backs, our eyes pointed upwards at the poolside palm trees swaying in the breeze, the sort of vacation snapshot you etch into your memory to fortify your wellbeing in less salubrious times.