An Ode to our Summer
Our skin got a bit darker, our hair a bit lighter, and for some of us, our mouths got quite a bit toothier.
We escaped our children for two nights and did something quite unfathomable in years of late. We each read an entire book without pictures--in peace and with no rush.
Our hands were stained red, blue, and black from the strawberries, cherries, blueberries, and blackberries we picked. And then we realized our hands were losing their dark hue, so we picked blackberries again. And again. Third time's the charm.
We organized our first garden and ate the fruits of our labor in salsa form, nearly every day. Blackberry salsa, anyone?
We experienced things we've never done, saw friends and family we rarely see, and rode in the fast lane whenever possible.
We tried never to sit still, especially around our cousins. The only exception: when being bribed with ice cream.
We took family runs, bike rides, and some tumbles along the paved paths of a nearby Civil War battlefield. And Hudson proudly told anyone who would listen: "I got boo boos on the battlefield."
We never let a lap go empty for long, and we helped polish many a grandparent's reading skills.
We swam in pools, splashed in the ocean, and waded in Lake Michigan. All while smiling with a shiner on one of our eyes (not from the battlefield but from a certain twin brother).
Summer wasn't always a smooth ride. There were still tantrums and sickness. Humidity and overpriced carnivals. And on more than one occasion we quoted dear ol' George Bailey from It's a Wonderful Life: "You call this a happy family?!"
But we'll push the falls and tears in the back of our minds
and instead remember the sunshine, the laughter, and the sweet break from the ever daunting routine.
Goodbye, precious summer days. Time to rest up. A new season begins . . .
nice post, thanks
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