How had I missed this simple idea my whole entire life? We are always finishing one goal and rushing off to start the next goal. Where is the time to reflect? The time to bask in the golden glow of accomplishments? The time to just pass time without a set agenda? To inhale the sweet, seductive, memorable scent of summer that immediately transports you back to a childhood of freedom from homework, books and teachers' dirty looks. We had permission to be lazy. And life was good. I think this year I will be a Summer Grader with Josh and enjoy the slow, melodic rhythm of long days, short nights and a whole bunch of unplanned fun sandwiched in between.
From the time I was born until my Mom returned to work when I entered the Ninth Grade, summers were an abundance of fun. Now I know I tugged on Mom with complaints of utter boredom, ridiculous heat and muttering words about "stupid chores", but those are tucked way back in the spider webbed closet of my brain. No, what I fondly remember about summer is the reason why I chose a Traditional School Calender for our children. It's the part of your childhood that stays shiny long after the other parts become tarnished, nicked, fuzzy and faded. It's a smell, a song, a food, a movie, a holiday that instantly transports you to a magical place at a slower pace.
Summer to me is:
Flipping my pillow to the cool side
Creating a sheet tent at night with my electric fan
Camping with friends and family
Outdoor movies
Water ballet
Long afternoons at the community pool with school friends
Diving competitions
Passing the deep end swimming test
S'mores
Charring hot dogs on a stick over a crackling fire
Steamed crabs and corn on the cob, both dripping with butter
Sand in every part of my bathing suit
One good wipe out while body surfing
Coppertone
Watermelon and cherry seed spitting contests
Riding my bike everywhere
Flashlight tag
Coca Cola in a green glass bottle
Bottle rockets
Penny candy
Watching the Orioles at Memorial Stadium
Ocean City and Thrashers French Fries with vinegar and salt
Soft ice cream
Carnivals with tummy flipping rides and sweet fried dough
Nickerson State Park
Fresh veggies from our garden
Lilacs
Puddle jumping during rainstorms in my bathing suit
Freshly mowed grass
Dandelion wishes
Little League Baseball
Digging for clams
The taste of sweat
Belly laughing at nothing until my parents said "Shush! Go to sleep!"
The smell of freshly lit charcoal
Severn River and cannon balls off the lifeguard chair
Fireflies in a Mason jar
Whiffle ball games
Run Down
Reading in a tree
Baughers peaches
Fishing
The first sunburn followed by a dark tan
Sunkissed highlights
Plastic folding lawn chairs
Picnic tables
Front porch talks
Cousins
Grandmom and Grandad's side porch
Sun Tea
Homemade fruit pies
Hikes through the Contactin Mountains
Canoe tipping in Piney Run Park
Popsicles
Sleeping in
Baby doll pajamas
Halter tops
Skinned knees
Dirt under my fingernails
The smell of tomato plants in the hot sun
Weeding
Afternoon thunderstorms
Ice cream trucks
Blisters in between my big toe and first toe from cheap flip flops
Tan lines
Traveling out West
Disney World
Summer crushes
The movie Grease
Sleepovers
Telling secrets while lying in the cool grass
Missing my school friends
Pen pals
Picnics with homemade food
Daydreaming
Beach fire pits
Watching fireworks at the Carroll County Farm Museum
I have many more memories that would fill up oodles of pages but I have to stop babbling. I hope our children become Honor Roll Summer Graders and relish all the delights of unplanned, unexpected summer fun. And I hope in their twilight years, a small smile will flicker across their face as they rock to the rhythm of their childhood summer lullaby. What summer song is calling you? I hope you, too, find joy in being a Summer Grader - after all, it's right up there with recess!
