My eyes slowly flutter open as I try to figure out where that annoying buzzing sound is coming from. I glare into the dark up at the ceiling and I realize that it is my alarm telling me that it is 3:05AM and time to get up. As my feet hit the floor I shuffle them around in search of the incredibly soft slippers that were left for me at turn down. We have to leave for the airport in 55 minutes after spending 5 days in the Napa Valley for our honeymoon. Back to reality.
Five perfect days of an incredible resort, great weather, two of the world’s finest restaurants, beautiful hikes, grand trees, and food (oh, the food)! We had been looking forward to this trip for months and it was even better than we had imagined.
I spent those five days getting used to being greeted as “Mr. & Mrs. Cannon” at the resort and restaurants, soaking in as much of the scenery as I could, exploring one of the world’s oldest forests, and eating my weight in baked goods and sweets. With mixtures of adventure and relaxation, elegant and laid back nights, neither of us wanted to leave. But it was time.
Nebraska was calling us back with a new job and a new semester only a few days away. We set it up so that our last night in Napa would be our most memorable. On New Year’s Eve we had an early dinner at the French Laundry followed by a relaxing night by the fire back at Meadowood discussing how wonderful the past week had been. We turned in early awaiting the dreaded 3AM wake-up call.
The week leading up to Napa was filled with our beautiful wedding and Christmas with our wonderful families. What would it be like returning to our daily routine after two and half weeks of luxury? We were both in denial and slightly grumpy to be returning, fearful of the rude awakening that we were in for.
So what happens when the honeymoon is over?
I woke up the next morning and stumbled out of our bed, slipperless. All I wanted was an English muffin from the bakery near the resort. Instead I woke up to a house with no food, suitcases to be unpacked, and loads of laundry calling my name. I’m so happy to be back.
We spent the entire day running errands, cleaning, grocery shopping, folding laundry, de-cluttering and organizing what is now our new home together as “Mr. and Mrs. Cannon.” It was a perfect day. No seriously.
While I loved all of the wonderful times we had in Napa there was something so special about spending our first day back working together to make this house our home. Some of our favorite things to do together are cooking and cleaning and that’s what makes us work.
While I won’t ever say “no” to another trip back to Napa or a night out at a Michelin Starred restaurant with my husband, I’m just as happy to stay at home with him. Yes, we loved our honeymoon and will always treasure that week, but it is the rest of our life together that we will cherish the most.
Photo: Our Wedding 12/22/2015 Credit: Emily Kowalski Photography