You may have noticed a lapse in posts here at adMISSIONs. A funny thing happened along the way from May to today: summer break. I consciously chose to set posting here aside for the season. I spent time instead generating posts in the memories of my children because this summer demanded special attention. This is how I spent my summer vacation.
Philmont
My son will be 17 in a few months. Accompanying him on a two-week, once-in-a-lifetime trip to New Mexico’s Philmont Scout Ranch trumped every other card on my table. There’s something beyond words in the experience of having the boy you’ve raised cheering you on to the 12,441 foot summit of Mount Baldy; the last 50 yards took nearly an hour. Those fourteen days with my son will be among the most precious memories I’ll have of him the rest of my life. John must have loved it because two weeks after coming home, he packed his trunk and headed off to Boy Scout summer camp in Oklahoma.
Camp Grammy
My children take turns every summer in Utah visiting my mom. We call it Camp Grammy because she pulls together side-trips and activities with each of them in mind. Only Kate and Zuzu made the trip this summer. John and I had New Mexico. Stella had DECATS–a gifted and talented summer program. And, then she answered the call of the sea….
Stella the Sailor
From painter to rudder, Stella spent two weeks sailing to briny deep of Clear Lake at Camp Casa Mare. Her near-daily dispatches became the highlight of our mail call.
Camp Apple for dad
Just before leaving for Philmont, I began having trouble with my MacBookPro. Disc searches were slowing, strange error messages were popping up. I thought it might be a too-full hard-drive. I returned from my trip to discover something far more disastrous: a failing drive. Two weeks of plucking off survivors, replacing and rebuilding the drive took me way off course. So much for quiet months of summer.
Road trips and board games
We got in some day trips, splashed in the pool, and spent time around board games. Among our trips was a run to see the chainsaw art created on Galveston Island from the oaks fallen by Hurricane Ike. It was hotter than hell that day, but a fun time in the end. Parents will understand that better than I can explain.
Shifting gears
This may be the last summer of us all together. With John’s 17th birthday coming in December, his thoughts are shifting to college, cash, and cars. Kate is similarly shifting into high school mode preparing for her freshman year at Saint Agnes. Both of them are already talking about summer jobs next year. So, time with them this summer took first priority. Even so, I wish there had been a way to have had more of it. We’re about two weeks from uniforms, lunchboxes, and early rising.
Life is often better remembered than experienced. This summer, I made sure we all had enough experiences to remember for many summers to come. Thanks for understanding.
Leave a Reply