Wednesday, July 1, 2015

This Is Summer

Of all my childhood summers the one that might stand out the most clearly is the summer of kick-the-can. One evening my dad taught a bunch of hoodlum neighborhood kids and his own sheltered daughters how to play the 1950's classic, and for the next few weeks it was all we could think about. The games started first thing in the morning, and I remember being resentful of being forced to eat dinner while the rest of the bunch played on without us just beyond our dining room windows. It didn't matter that the kids we were playing with weren't our best of friends. As I recall it was mostly boys, the same boys who always got in trouble on the bus. When we were running and hiding, yelling and chasing, our differences melted away. Sometimes I'll see one of those guys from a distance, and I remember that summer we were almost, sort of friends.

I wonder what memories will stand out in my own children's minds, the things that stick, things that will stay with them for twenty years and beyond. Afternoons spent at the water park on Tuesday when town residents get in free after four. Evenings spent swinging with friends. Late night Minecraft marathons in a basement full of kids spending the night. Again.

Neighbors come and go. An old friend stops by with her children for a visit before heading down to the beach. We order pizza too many nights. My house just won't get clean. Someone drops off a dozen steamed crabs. We eat far too much ice cream. My kids are tan and bug bitten and in need of a good, long bath.

13 comments:

  1. Your descriptions are eloquent and so redolent of summer and, for some reason (though my childhood was different) make me feel very nostalgic. In a good way :).

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    1. That summer feeling / remembering is a powerful thing, isn't it?

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  2. "...and I remember that summer we were almost, sort of friends." I love that. Great post :)

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  3. Beautifully written, it made me long for the summers with my brother and sisters.

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  4. I'm trying to create some of that magic in our own neighborhood, but this post makes me want to move in next door to you guys!

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    1. Come replace the grumpy guy next door who fusses at me when the kids play ghost in the graveyard past nine pm...on weekends.

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  7. I remember the summer of kick the can. The summer that the "beacher" boys reluctantly joined in on our game after watching from afar fearing they were too cool for the game. I also remember feeling full of pride knowing that we had introduced the fun when everyone decided, too cool or not, this is awesome. We had as good a childhood as one can have, with many summers coming to my mind. I know without a shadow of a doubt that your kids will many summer that will come to mind, heck I bet they already do. Keep rocking sister!

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    1. Bug, I love this comment. Summers are for being young / feeling young.

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  8. Your photos just keep getting more and more beautiful!

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