Happy Summer, everyone!
I’m currently working in my summer office…on my patio, my laptop attached to an extension cord, and a nice cup of coffee by my side…and my dog on my lap. (My dog is VERY happy.) Birds are tweeting, gentle wind is blowing, and the skeeters aren’t hungry at all. THIS is what summer is all about.
And you can’t help but be in a relaxed and wondrous summery mood when you start off the day with a long lazy walk, and there are even teeny rabbits watching you as you pass. Sigh.
This summer I’m looking forward to catching fireflies, discovering more original recipes to test out on our ancient charcoal grill, being dreamy and diving into writing a novel I’ve got swarming around my head, and daytripping to the Jersey shore, too.
Summers seem to buzz by so fast, and I fear this summer will absolutely fly – cuz, drum roll please, my youngest child is going off to college in August. Zowie, how did that happen so quickly? (Break into the chorus of Sunrise/Sunset everyone…)
Two days ago, she graduated from high school, and I sat on the bleachers with the sun blazing in my eyes (not complaining…are you kidding? Those reflective sunglasses meant no one could see any tearful moments). And like any rite of passage in life, it felt surreal. You can’t help but say to yourself, am I really watching my baby graduate? Add it to the list… Did I really graduate from college? Just get married? Am I really holding my own child in my arms? Did this dear person really just pass away? Is that really my book on the shelf?
Rites of passage force you to stop and take notice. To reflect on what happened up to that point, and how things will be different in the future. To appreciate things. To be grateful. I’m one of those people who try to do these things on a daily basis anyway, but even for me, it can still hit home pretty strongly. Even when you think you’ve got it all sorted in your brain.
A few days before graduation, I was in the basement cleaning out a ton of stuff. Sleeves rolled up, I was excited to get rid of crap and tidy things up. Totally ready to tackles those piles on all those basement shelves. A smashed box of Twister. A bunch of moldy Halloween costumes. A humongous stash of crayons. I was on a true roll. The dumpster was filling up. Barbie clothes. My little pony gear. More games. A nasty old baby doll. Then I found a tiny little art smock, and I stopped. My throat closed and it really hit me.
The palpable end of childhood and my job as the mom of youngsters. I’ll always be a mom, of course, but it’ll never be the same. And the weight of promise ahead is overwhelming in its own way. The wonderfulness my daughters now have ahead of them, the exciting opportunities and the pure fun. Wow, what a flood of emotion.
I decided to keep the little art smock.
And I’ve vowed to continue to treasure every moment.
Summer is fleeting, so be sure to make your own time slow down and to savor every bit of it.
Your post is a touching reminder of our ever evolving lives.
Thanks, Robert!
As the wise and wonderful Dr. Seuss said, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” I hung onto those words throughout my son’s 5th grade graduation. I still cried, but only a little. It’s hard to grieve when the future is so very bright.
Sarah, what a lovely quote! Thanks for sharing it. It made me cry, though… ;)
Guess I still need to get a better grip! (And perhaps some chocolate, too.)
Alas, summer does go by too fast. Thanks for the reminder to smell the roses.
Yes! Start today :)
I can relate…. my daughter just graduated from college. To celebrate we drove across the country together to her new job on the west coast. Talk about a palpable end! After we lugged all her worldly possessions to the 2nd floor apartment, we hugged tight and then I got in my car to drive away. Your words captured it: “The wonderfulness my daughters now have ahead of them, the exciting opportunities and the pure fun. Wow, what a flood of emotion.”
Aw, Julia. How sweet and wonderful. That’s what they mean by bittersweet, I guess.
More chocolate!
And congrats to you both <3
Marie. . . you touched my heart. I also had a change of season recently. Yankee Doodle, my ten year old American Foxhound, passed away.
The last posting I made on her Furry-Facebook page says: “Never has a dog – brought such joy – to a little boy.”
Oh, so sorry to hear that!
best wishes…