A reader wrote to me last week, “Gina, where are you??? Are you okay? Or, has something happened to my ADHD Roller Coaster blog subscription?”

Have you been wondering the same? Please accept my apologies.  The fact is, after 8 years of steady blogging here, I needed a break. So, I took one. Quite unexpectedly.

In January, my second book debuted: Adult ADHD-Focused Couple Therapy: Clinical Interventions, with Arthur L. Robin, PhD, and guest contributors. I’ll post about it next week.

Suffice it to say, the careful research and thought that we put into creating the first couple-therapy model for Adult ADHD took the better part of four years. And then there is the online home-study test for therapists (with CE credits).

Frankly, I was exhausted.  Now I’m revived, and you can see the photos of the events that helped to renew my energy, below.

Northern Lights—Finally!

In March, I decided to celebrate a “big” birthday by finally seeing the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis. A lifelong dream. My husband joined me in what turned out to be a spectacular trip to Fairbanks, Alaska.

Let me tell you. It is nothing short of miraculous that we didn’t just survive this trip; we had a memorable time together. Despite a crazy schedule of being outside from 9 pm to 3 or 4 am. And it being colder than we’re used to in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Here’s a hard bit of truth: I used to say to my husband, “You could ruin a trip to the mailbox!” And it was true. He wigged out when faced with the unstructured time of “vacation” and “having fun.”  So, he’d unconsciously “self-medicate” with irritability, boorishness, and generally obnoxious behavior. (Last  year, I developed a method for getting us over our “PTSD” around joint vacations; I’ll share that in a future post.)

Once back home, I remained in mental Vacation Mode—gleefully cleaning out closets and file cabinets, so refreshing after writing and editing!

Bonus: RAIN in Northern California!

RAIN in Northern California meant I could throw myself into in reviving my drought-stricken garden. RAIN also meant my husband and I have enjoyed wildflower displays on our hikes.

Next week, it’s back to the regular schedule—posting each Wednesday! The queue is already filled with great guest essays and newsy bits.

Until then, I’d love to share with you some of the highlights of my spring. I hope you enjoyed yours, too!

The World Ice Art Championships 2016

Our timing was perfect!  Not only for the Northern Lights (see below) but for the fantastical World Ice Art Championships.  We had no idea how elaborate and mesmerizing this event would be. But we visited every day (and at night) to marvel at the contestants’ wizardry in slowly transforming crystal-clear blocks of ice into the most imaginative figures.

The Northern Lights, March 2016, Fairbanks

Running With Reindeer

We met our first reindeer at Running with Reindeer Ranch.  We learned so much about these unusual creatures. They love lichen, and when the owners aren’t looking, they come into the house! We highly recommend this tour!

Dog Sledding—Mush!

It’s true. Those dogs love to run!  As we configured ourselves into the two-person sled, their barking conveyed the clear message: Let’s Go!!  What a beautiful way to travel.

Back in the Garden, With Rain—Finally!

Mt. Diablo

A devastating wildfire tore through the massive open space surrounding Mt. Diablo. While the manzanita and other bushes are coming back slowly, the wildflowers were spectacular this year—especially California poppies and purple lupine.

Down this path and around the hill….lined with lupines and California poppies!

So, that’s it. I’ve had a wondrous spring. The best spring vacation ever. Thanks for your patience in my absence!

—Gina Pera