We spent a memorable week in Maui, Hawaii, thanks to our son, Francis, who owned a timeshare at the luxurious Kaanapali Westin. Francis, ever modest and indifferent to wealth, gave us an experience that left us in awe. My husband and I were dazzled by the elegance of our surroundings, unlike anything we had ever encountered. Our efficiency apartment featured a fully equipped kitchen, complete with a full-sized refrigerator that allowed us to stock up on breakfast and lunch essentials for the entire week so we would only need to spend money on dinners.

Each morning, I relished the simple joy of brewing tea in a glass pot and savoring it on the balcony, gazing out at the breathtaking ocean. The water, a profound shade of blue with glistening white caps, was strikingly different from the more subdued hues of the Rhode Island coastline.

The bathroom featured a grand, round jacuzzi that quickly became another cherished retreat. Knowing my love for long baths, Hubby thoughtfully bought bath bubbles — but using the jets was out of the question, lest the bubbles multiply to the point of engulfing me, leaving only a tiny dot amid a frothy mountain of bubbles. Simply sinking into the warm, soothing water, nearly up to my neck, was a joy in itself — a gentle reminder of the elusive relaxation I had often longed for but rarely found.

The real reason for the trip was the opportunity to spend cherished time with Francis and his family, who usually reside in California. Each morning, Francis reserved five poolside chairs for us, shaded under umbrellas and perfectly positioned by the "river pool."

Ten-year-old Izzy, a natural and graceful swimmer, captivated us with her mermaid-like movements, performing handstands and somersaults with effortless charm. She glowed in response to our applause. Meanwhile, 5-year-old Stevie, full of boundless energy and fearless determination, repeatedly launched himself off the pool’s edge into my arms, clinging to my back as we raced down the "river" in pursuit of Izzy. Stevie, whose speech and impulse control are affected by a medical mishap at birth, found joy and freedom in this endless game of jumping and splashing. The pool became a space where his impulsivity was expressed in a safe way, and we spent countless hours reveling in his exuberance.

The amusing part of spending all day in the pool was discovering that my fingers became so wrinkled they could no longer unlock my phone and iPad using fingerprint recognition. No matter how I tried, I couldn’t convince my devices that it was still me — just a more waterlogged version! But that was perfectly fine. Technology took a backseat on this trip, allowing the moments with family and the joy of simply being present to take center stage.

My favorite adventure was snorkeling along the coral reef in the ocean’s crystal-clear waters. The beach itself was narrow, with constantly shifting sand that made walking on it a challenge. Once I stepped into the water, however, the sandy bottom dropped away, and my feet dangled freely. Positioning myself to float on a tube with my snorkel gear, I was captivated by the view of the underwater world — caverns and crevices teeming with vibrantly colored fish in their natural habitat, so much more magical than any aquarium. I swear I even saw Nemo and his friends in real life.

As my tube drifted farther out, I was thrilled to spot a large sea turtle gracefully gliding along the coral. Then, to my shock, a shark came into view! I panicked, but Francis calmly assured me it was a whitetip reef shark and completely harmless —though I’m not sure there’s such a thing as a harmless shark in my book! Despite his reassurance, I wasted no time and swam back to shore as fast as I could, which took forever due to the unrelenting waves pushing me back. It was an exhausting, but memorable adventure.

I had packed my suitcase full of “outfits,” shorts and t-shirts and such. Spending that week in Maui, I learned the only outfit I needed was the one to wear on the airplane and several different bathing suits. At least I didn’t have to wash any dirty clothes when I got home.

In this season of thanks, I am deeply thankful to Francis for giving us this incredible opportunity. I truly cherished the time spent with him and his family!