1. Summer officially begins this week (in the northern hemisphere)…what was your favorite thing to do in the summer when you were a kid? What do you like most about summer now? 

When I was a kid, I loved two things: when my mom broke out the Slip ‘n Slide and let us eat our lunch outside on a huge blanket in between running and sliding. We lived in south Florida and didn’t have a pool so that was a welcome break from the heat. The other thing was riding my bike to friends’ houses. We rode all over that neighborhood! The feeling of possibility was endless; we’d go to so-and-so’s house to play kickball in the yard or so-and-so’s house to use their pool and so on. It was just pure, unadulterated fun and freedom.

These days, I do like that the kids go to camp every day and are worn out! I mean, they have gone a long time now and I technically only have one in now. Isaac is a counselor. But they enjoy the heck out of it. I like that Summer seems like a slower pace of life, even though for us, we always have stuff going on.

2.  Something you’ll celebrate this summer? 

I’m hoping to celebrate getting a job! Otherwise, it’ll be July 4th, Ash’s birthday, then finishing RAGBRAI.

3. Summer tastes like? Smells like? Sounds like? 

Summer tastes like popsicles and fruit. It’s smells like grass and someone in the distance barbecuing. It sounds like the hum of bugs at dusk; the owl hooting to each other in the trees.

4. June 18th is National Splurge Day…what’s the last thing you splurged on? What might you splurge on today? 

The last thing I splurged on – I guess – was Sierra Nevada Summerfest. They had 12 packs on sale for $18.50 and I bought four. It’s an easy drinker. Today, if I get all my work done after my bike ride, I might get a frozen yogurt at the Costco.

5. Share a favorite summer quote, saying, song lyric, or meme.

For some reason, the Luke Bryan song ‘Roller Coaster’ came to mind; just because it talks about something fleeting, which is how summer always feels to me.

We spent that week wide open
Upside down beside the ocean
I didn’t know where it was goin’
Just tryin’ to keep my heart on the tracks
I should’ve known that kind of feelin’
Would last longer than that week did
Blown away and barely breathin’
When Sunday came and it was over
Now she’s got me twisted
Like an old beach roller coaster

And I love how you always see this kind of thing on Pinterest:

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I started this post then abandoned it. Now, at almost one, I’m remembering! I hopped on the bike, then got motivated to clean the bathrooms, then I ran to Costco and Publix. I picked up a five dollar sushi roll and started watching Road to Morocco, then somehow fell asleep. I find that when my husband is out of town, I am just not my normal self. I allow myself to eat at weird times and nap. Last night, I was pretty tired by 10 so I actually went to sleep! Of course, I woke around 3:45 and couldn’t fall back to sleep until 5. Sigh. This trip won’t be too bad; he comes home Friday. But the next one! He and Isaac will be gone for nearly nine days. Oy. I have some stuff planned but not too much. I will say, a plan did emerge last night. I had told my daughter we’d do the beach while the boys were gone and then I asked my oldest if he and his girlfriend wanted to come as well. So that’s set and now I think a friend of mine and her daughter are coming. I was chatting with my mom last night and she suggested driving on from the beach to her house and visiting for the weekend. I think we might could do that! It’ll be a lot but probably worth it. We shall see!