Summer Musings

Perhaps my Therapist Mother or Professor Father are to blame, but several times a year, I like to reflect upon life and ask myself what I’ve learned. The answer is usually something boring, such as ‘I need to exercise more, eat less or be more patient.’ But this time a few points came back that I felt were worth sharing before the summer comes to a close:

1. The Albertson’s parking lot is not flat.
I learned this the hard way. While unloading my groceries, I momentarily lost contact with my shopping cart. Upon hearing screaming and commotion, I turned around and saw my cart careening down the parking lot at a rapid pace. Fortunately, only my groceries, and not my children, were in it. The cart smashed into the back of a SUV and broke a small taillight. My luck, the owners were about to get into their car. They were not happy. Once I explained the accident was caused by my bad grocery store mojo and offered to pay for all damages, they calmed down.

2. Children must be placed in strict quarantine one week before departing for the family vacation.
This summer, my kids went to a fairy princess birthday party the week before we left for Colorado. Big mistake. As if life weren’t exciting enough, my five year old came down with a fever of 104+. And of course, the younger one had to get it just as the older one was getting better. I have never watched so many pay-per-view movies in a hotel room--twelve to be exact. If you can’t place your kids in quarantine, come prepared with books and a list of movies to enjoy on your ‘vacation.’

3. As parents, we can never worry too much or be too grateful for every day we spend with our children and families.
This summer seems to have been full of mourning and loss for so many families in both my childhood hometown of Lexington, Kentucky and my new hometown of Laguna Beach. We recently lost our Aunt Rose, a fabulously strong and healthy woman who couldn’t survive an automobile accident. I have been a worrywart my whole life. I now see there’s no hope of that fretful habit ending anytime soon. As long as I couple my worry with gratitude and a box of See’s candy, I hope to enjoy each day.

So dear Summer, I bid you farewell. You have been hot, crowded and wonderfully delicious. My family and I had fun swimming at the high school, eating gelato downtown and dancing to music in the park.

Fall promises to be interesting. My five year old starts first grade next week. She recently informed us that she wishes to be home-schooled. I’m not sure where she learned those two words—it certainly wasn’t at home. I have been too busy building my latest invention, a shopping cart with brakes, to even contemplate a curriculum.