Reflections on Summer

While fall remains my favorite season, summer is a close second. More accurately, not summer in the context of the three-month season between the end of May to the end of September, but rather summer in that two-month period when schools are out. I think for our family, like most, this is the brief moment where we spend the bulk of our time together for the year. As fall approaches, I know we will soon be wrapped up in work, school, fall sports and many other activities. As our “kids” (ages 15 and 18) return to school, I know summer 2022 is officially over.

This was a big one for us. Our oldest graduated high school and for his graduation, we all went to Korea for a visit with extended family. It had been three years since we last visited. We had a great time! Not only for all the reasons I outlined in my blog on visiting family earlier this year, but also for that bonding you can only get from staying in close quarters 24/7 while away from home. This week’s featured pic is just one moment from our four-week long extended stay. I am not sure how many more opportunities we will have to spend that long together, literally about every waking moment.

Between the trip to Korea and preparing our oldest for college there were a few new and old summer routines. My youngest and I got out on the water just about every weekend we were home to fish and tool around on the river in our boat. He also spent a lot of time with friends swimming and going to the lake. New this summer was teaching our youngest to drive.  He got his learners permit at the beginning of the summer and hitting the road with him has been a nice new weekend ritual. 

Unfortunately, there was still plenty of work to intermingle with the summer vacation time. Not only 40 hours a week in my day job, but also all the repairs that pop up while running a rental property business. This has been the year of the appliance as far as our rentals go. My sons and I have moved and installed more refrigerators, ranges and dishwashers into our rental units this summer than ever. Appliances used to seemingly last forever. Now you are lucky to get 10 years. I guess, this summer their time was up!

It was a good summer but went by in the blink of an eye and literally stopped on a dime. Just last week our youngest started a demanding curriculum in the 10^th grade and swim team practice to prepare for meets later in the fall. Our oldest has two more weeks until we drop him off for his new college adventure. He is understandably spending these last few days with his local high school friends before they all disperse to start their new lives.  

It just seems the “summer” goes by so much quicker than it did when I grew up. I’ve shared previously how summer beach vacations were probably one of the most memorable and exciting times for me growing up. I’m not sure I’ve managed to recreate that magic in my own family’s life. I won’t blame my 24 years of military service but certainly summers were shaped a lot differently for our children than when I grew up.

Regardless, I’m confident we’ve done the best we could to take advantage of those brief couple of months each year when family time takes center stage. Sure, there are things I wished we would have done this past summer, but I’m thankful for the opportunities we had. I know, before long, the two months of summer vacation will look completely different for our family.

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