all summer long

just a few more days.  i've heard it from the teachers....i've heard it from the kids...i've heard it from the moms.  just a few more days.

it's funny.  we just spent some time with a friend who's a teacher at his alma mater....a boarding school in connecticut. a mid life career change.....following the call of an old dream......he loves it. he really loves it.  the year is over. he's done. the end.....til september!  he is one happy guy.

we had dinner down at the beach last night.  we talked.  the kids, 2 boys and 2 girls, and the parents laughed.  we talked about summers we shared on the vineyard and the cape.  the kids and the grown ups had plain old fashioned fun.  simply. at a picnic table. overlooking the water.

simply.  living simply.  that's summer for us. summer flies by.  our friend michael, the boarding school teacher, asked us, "what are three

reasons that people become teachers?"  the answer....june, july and august!

i feel that way too.  it's a much needed break. the week is like a great run on sentence....with no english teacher marking it red with comments and suggestions.

 

is it because i'm an august baby?  maybe. maybe i'm just following in my mother's footsteps.....in the sand.  my mother loved summer.  she was one of the few moms sad to see her kids hop on the bus in september!  same here. 

it's a gift.  summer.  summer people. summer places. summer things. beach. sail. swim.  bike. read. parades. boats. islands. day dreams. explore. friends. family. fireworks. ocean.  fruit. corn on the cob. tomatoes. sunshine.  lotion. sleep. umbrellas.hammock. canvas. salads. swimsuits. shorts. flip flops. time. lightning bugs. sea shells. ice cream. sea glass.  fish. outdoor showers.  soft towels.  coolers.  sandy sandwiches.  sun burn.  bare foot.  base ball. card games.  barbeques. salt water fish tank.  beach grass.

wet dogs. shady spots. summer friends.  penny candy store.  outdoor concerts.  boogie boards.  cannon balls.  starry nights.  late nights.  laughter.  quiet time. laughter. singing. board games. road trips.  maps.  baseball hats. 

simple goodness. very simple. we need that.  ahhhhh. summer. plain old fashioned summer.  that's all that we can wish for our kids.  simple summertime goodness.......and  making memories.  sweet memories. simple, sweet memories.

t.j. was 2 years old.  grace was 3.  we were on the cape with our friends.  we had a glorious day at the beach.

we had a fun dinner with friends.  we put grace and t.j. to bed...in an extra bedroom....in the wee cape cod house on the beach.....lots of sunburned kids...we talked and told stories for hours...we were all having fun together with friends....our friends suggested staying the night....the babies were already asleep....we talked about it...it made sense.

 

t.j., grace, biff and i....all cozy in one room....sleeping in the cape cod house....by the beach....

 

we woke up the next morning to t.j.'s sweet voice, " ohhhhh! weeee're at da beeeeech!"  what a way to start the day!   biff and i still remember that little voice and the joy.....when he saw the sun peeking through the window.....and he realized we were still there......"at da beeeeech!"

that's how i feel.........when i wake up....all summer long.