As I chose my outfit yesterday and looked in the mirror, I almost had to laugh because it matched the style I described in my introduction entry perfectly. An obnoxiously bright yellow tank top, with a bright pink tank underneath, pink flip flops, a green peace sign necklace and a blue peace sign bracelet. Yes, I would say I had it right. Just add a little orange and I would have practically been a rainbow. Luckily that outfit reminded me of this blog of mine and inspired me to write during a bit of my free time today.
It is 98 degrees in the shade at my house today and as humid as humid can be. And what did I do? I mowed the lawn. Now mowing the lawn is huge in this household. I mow a minimum of two times a week on my dad’s orders. He insists that our yard has to look like a golf course and it is much easier to agree than to argue. But I don’t mind. I like the yard to look nice too. Mowing is therapeutic for me. A perfect time to think, pray, and reminisce. Today, in the heat of summer, I couldn’t help but remember many of the summer days that I’ve enjoyed over the years.
My thoughts first drifted to the summer before we got Central Air in our house, when we slept in the garage all summer because my mom’s asthma couldn’t handle the humidity of the house. We brought out our mattresses and played Playstation 2 and board games next to the little air conditioner every day. Mom let me sleep in a cardboard box because she thought it would be funny. And she was right, it was. My cousin and I caught a jar full of fireflies and we brought it in the garage, only to find that the lid wasn’t on right and they all escaped. We were terrified my dad would be mad when he found out so we spent hours with the lights off, trying to catch them all again.
I remember Kyle and Scott putting up the rope swing at the river and how I was terrified watching Kyle, harnessed to the branch, climbing up higher and higher to tie the rope. As I hid behind my hands, scared he might fall to his death at any moment, Scott and Kory beamed happily, most definitely imagining the fun and adventurous times that the swing was going to bring. And so it did. That summer the trail to the river stayed well groomed as friend after friend came to try out our new pride and joy toy. My house became the most popular place to come on hot summer days and warm summer evenings. There was always wood by the fire pit and mud on the dock from the numerous mud wars that we would host.
Many sunsets were viewed from the top of the 6 foot round hay bales. The dogs would always follow me out to the middle of the field and while I laid on top and gazed at the beautiful colors painted across the sky, my dogs would mouse and cover themselves in ticks, I’m sure.
Making forts outside with the guys always seemed to be the highlight. I would meet at Scott’s kitchen table every day, where he would draw out blueprints and I would nod in agreement to whatever he drew up. I played little help in the brainstorming and was even less of a help in the building but I was a reliable sidekick, always there to keep my cousins company. I was willing to do what they needed, whether it was holding a bucket of nails, fetching a board, or even trying out the sidecar that we made for Scott’s motorcycle. We would stay busy until we lost daylight, only to do it again the next day.
I even remember when I was younger yet, watching my brother playing that Super Nintendo duck hunting game until mom called us to come eat lunch. We would eat our macaroni and hotdogs and then mom would say “Now go play in the street” and I knew I had the coolest mom in the world for saying that. Of course I wouldn’t pass up an offer like this because it wasn’t every day a mother would say such a thing. However, living in the middle of nowhere with a long dirt road for a driveway had its advantages. Mom knew I would be safe splashing in the puddles with my black mud boots on.
Going to ValleyFair was always the biggest trip of the summer. My dad would take me and a friend each summer. He said it was because I always got such good grades and I knew that he meant that. But, I also knew that he wanted to go on the roller coasters just as much as I did. We would spend all day going on rides and eating junk food until we were completely exhausted from being in the sun. Then I would sleep all the way home, knowing I was safe with my dad driving.
Then there were the nights spent laying on the playhouse roof at Kirstin’s, watching the stars. We would lay up there for hours on our pillows and blankets waiting for shooting stars and trying to hide from the bugs. We would talk about as many things as possible and it never failed that I started to fall asleep. But never Kirstin because she is just a pro at staying awake.
On a particular warm night Kate, Wynn and I went swimming in their pool when it was dark, which always seemed like a great summer adventure. Wynn entertained us by playing a swimming noodle like a trumpet. He was insanely good at operating this unique instrument and we played “Guess this tune” until our skin became pruney.
Kat and I had many adventures down by her river, either on foot, in tubes or navigating a surfboard. The intensity level was increasing by stinging nettle, leaches, rapids and her dog, Torque. However, it never failed that we would come up with crazy ideas (perhaps about the secret intentions of dragon flies and a mongoose) and laughed hysterically.
Summer. Oh you are so sweet, so fun, so colorful. I will forever look forward to you, year after year. <3
With Peace &Love,
Stephanie
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