RAINER'S RAMBLINGS
By RAINER ARNOLD Union Sentinel Publisher

Vacations are stressful. Most people look forward to a vacation. After all, it is a well deserved break from work and a routine. Vacations are meant to be relaxing and fun. Now, I actually beg to dioffer with you on that. Vacations can be fun and relaxing experiences, but they can also be a lot of pressure. Take me for example. The wife and I are going on vacation as you read this. We are going to visit some relatives (actually my half-sister, her husband and their two daughters) in Germany and we are going first to visit some friends in Austria. So, since these friends of ours are always very nice to us when we are in Austria, I always take something to them in terms of gifts. Well, the family started out being just five people. Then came a baby and then a wife for one of the others. Then another baby and the list goes on and now there are 10 people. What do I bring them? I always stress out over that. Then I have to take stuff to my sister and her family. That is four more. Fortunately none of the people in Germany or Austria are high maintenance and so I can deal with it financially. On the way back I have to bring something back for my daughter and her husband as well as the two grandkids. That is stressful, especially with all the restrictions these days. Then there are friends in Germany and Austria that we have met and we would lke to bring them a few things from the USA. After all, they all love American things, especially fashions and things like that. Even though they can not read what the clothing says they love it. So, there is stress. Then you have to go to certain places and do certain obligations. Like I have to go to a Rotary International meeting and exchange banners. I have to attend some sporting events that are different than here for the paper. Oh, almost forgot, I have to write a bunch of stories ahead of time. You see I am also the Sports Editor of the Towns Sentinel. Thus, 3 or 4 stories extra for the two weeks that I am gone. Add to that the start of soccer season the week I am leaving. IT is starting a week earlier than last year. Fortunately I have some parents that will help and I have a really good assistant coach in Ali Honeycutt, a former TCHS girl soccer player. Then I know I will have to bring the kids something back from Austria. That makes for 15 more gifts. And, what do you bring 14 girls that are 9-12 years old and one that is 17? Stress and more stress. Then you worry about what you can take and what you can carry on. It is never ending. It used to be so easy when I did not know anyone and I was single. I just went and had a good time and came back. Oh, I almost forgot, now I also worry about where I am going to get the money from to pay for it all. However, no matter the stress, I am still going on vacation and I will have a good time. Trust me, I can do it.