Magical Summer Memories

Apple PieIt’s summertime again, and as always it’s passing too fast. Although schools out and we don’t have rehearsals and practices to rush to every evening, there is still that cursed day job and at least a thousand other things demanding my immediate attention. It makes me long for the simpler times and a slower pace of life.

Growing up, I loved visiting my grandparents house in the summer. They lived in a very rural area dominated by rolling mountains and lush green valleys. It is still litterally fifty miles to the closest fast food restaurant or Walmart. The cell phone reception is crappy and they are probably still using a dial up internet connection, but you know what? For me, my grandparents house represents one of the happiest places on earth.

My favorite part of the summer was when all of the aunts, uncles and cousins came for Fourth of July. After a day full of fun playing in the hayloft or swimming in the river you returned to the smell of grilling hamburgers, hot dogs and ribs. Tables piled high with deviled eggs, cole slaw, potato salad, pies and cakes. I fondly remember the lazy summer evenings where the adults gathered on the porch to talk and sip sweet tea or some other more adult beverage, while the kids played hide-and-go-seek and chased fireflys into the melting twilight. The sharp smell of freshly mowed lawn clung to the air as everybody ate watermelon, spitting seeds into the grass.

thCAG7TAUSAs the night grew dark the kids became more and more restless, begging for fireworks. There was nothing better than standing on the edge of my grandparents back field in awe as another rocket whizzed into the air, the explosive boom vibrating through my body. The colors showering down from the heavens set a magical backdrop to the Fourth of July.

Those are some of my favorite memories. I would love to hear some of your favorite summer memories in the comments.

5 thoughts on “Magical Summer Memories

  1. What a beautiful set of memories to share with us, Dana! I remember fireflies and playing frisbee. We had a pool membership and I would spend part of every day I could there, playing in the water, yacking and trading secrets. When we weren’t at the pool, we would sit outside, talking. My parents would make ice cream during the summer, and we would all take turns cranking the handle. Dad bought a travel trailer, and we spent weekends camping at the beach, in the mountains, and even as far away as Quebec.
    When my own children were smaller, I bought my own tent and introduced them to camping. They both love camping, even now. We spent part of every summer at the beach. One year, we had a “honey-don’t” vacation, and toured a different New York attraction every day. The rules were: no housework, no laundry, no cooking, just fun.
    Thanks for making me remember all of this!

  2. Oh, love all these memories. Both yours, Dana, and Susan’s. Family and fireflies, camping and Honey Don’ts. Love.

    My favorite summer memory is climbing up on top of Grandma’s roof with the rest of the family and watching fireworks then climbing back down for all night ping pong.

    Happy Summer! xoxoxoxo

  3. Thanks for stopping by ladies.

    Susan, thank you for sharing all of those fun memories. I LOVE the “Honey Don’t” vacation! What a brilliant idea! I will totally be using that.

    And Carlene, how cool that you were able to see the fireworks from the roof! I love Ping-Pong so that all sounds like a blast to me!

  4. My favorite summer memories are of the weeks I spent in Ontario every summer. And the best ones of those are wrapped up with a boy. Ah, summer love. The bittersweet quality of a love not meant to last past those summer days and nights. Just in my memories, but how sweet they are.

    1. Ah, summer love… Sigh. I bet Ontario was incredible! Thanks for stopping in, Kim!

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