I recall when the summer was my favorite time of year. I never cared about the heat or the humidity or the storms. I looked forward to it every year. However, in the last six years, the summer became such a difficult time for me. It always brought up memories of financial strain; job loss, or the complete opposite, working TOO much; and just never really having the time to enjoy anything. If I had known that after college ended my life would completely change, I would have sucked up every drop of that last summer and savored it like a fresh fruit salad.
In the last six years, my life has completely changed. I graduated from college and moved away. I met the love of my life and got married. And I found a job that sucks the life out of me during this time of year. As most of you already know, I work in publishing...and this time of year is when we need to fulfill all our orders for the start of school at the end of August and in early September. So while everyone else is off on their vacations, I'm putting in long evenings and weekends.
My purpose of this blog isn't to complain. It's more of recognizing a piece of my childhood that I didn't realize slipped through my fingers. I think what brought me to this realization was the recent weekend trip I made to Maine to visit my parents. It made me realize that I was no longer a child off wondering on summer vacation. It made me long for it. We were also reminiscing about the vacations we took as a family each year. The places we visited; where we stayed; and those funny memories you never seem to forget no matter how old you get. After I got home Sunday afternoon, I don't remember a time when I had felt so alone. That was it. I was all grown up. And at some point when I made the cross between child to adult, I gave up my summers.
There are obviously plenty of things that adults can enjoy during the summer as well. I still enjoy trips to the beach...in fact, the beach is probably my favorite place to be. I don't think there's anything else I love more than sitting in the warm sand on the beach, hearing the ocean in the background, and reading. I also love gardening and digging in the dirt in my backyard. I do get opportunities to travel on the weekends as well as outdoor day trips. I just feel like sometimes I'm missing something greater.
It's July 17th. It's going to be about 100 degrees today...with about 98% humidity. The summer is in full swing. Here is my opportunity to plan some summer activities to get myself out and enjoy life...and the summer. After all, the summer is my favorite time of year. And here's my chance to get what little I have back.
So what are your summer plans? Summer time isn't just for kids. I hope you are doing everything you love to do during the summer. In fact, you better not even be reading this blog. You should be at the beach, or on the road, or out on some wild outdoor adventure. Enjoy your summer, and be safe!
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