Summer Vacation

It’s been over 40 years since I graduated high school. Over 45 years since the “carefree” days of elementary school. And yet, I still find myself getting a tad excited this time of year. Why? SCHOOL’S OUT!! SUMMER VACATION!! ENDLESS DAYS OF FREEDOM!!!

In reality, all the days are pretty much the same at this point in my life. But there is still something that gets in my blood and I start daydreaming about the “good ol’ days.”

Staying up to watch the late show on TV because I could sleep in the next day. I saw some great old movies back then. Sure, they were loaded with commercials, but that was so you could run to the kitchen and get a snack. Like chili and crackers. EATING CHILI AT MIDNIGHT!! That would KILL me now!

Sleep-overs 2-3 times a week. My best friend lived across the street from me, and we were at each other’s house ALL THE TIME. One of my favorite memories was gathering coloring books, crayons, comic books, snacks, etc. and sitting in her mom’s old white Simca and pretending we were on an airplane flight to somewhere.

Playing in the back yard until it got really dark, which wouldn’t be til 9pm or so. Getting a bucket and a flashlight and rounding up as many toads and I could find. For some reason there were a ton of those critters that came out after dark in our back yard. I loved playing with them. When the bucket was full, I’d let ‘em all go.  

Best of all, though, was reading countless books. The library was my favorite place in the world. We’d go to the library on Saturday and I’d bring home an armload of books. As I got older, the books got thicker, fewer pictures, still an armload of them, but maybe having the books for the whole 2 weeks before returning them. And of course, if there wasn’t a good old movie on TV that night…READING UNTIL DAWN.

I kinda miss all that….and yet….

While watching my niece’s high school graduation as it was streamed live over the computer, I couldn’t help being SO THANKFUL that I’m past all of that. I don’t have to worry about college, finding a job, meeting someone and getting married, having kids…

I can just be a grandma. That’s a pretty good gig in itself, when you come to think of it…