Well, today is April 30, 2013. Tomorrow is May 1st!!!! And in this house this means that it is the beginning of the end of school. YAHOO!!! So, it's a very exciting, full month. And it MIGHT be my favorite month...WHY....because it is the beginning of summer and I LOVE SUMMER!!!!!!! I have always loved summer. I love the sun, the pool, long nights, the sounds, the heat... and of course vacation. VACATION....ahhhh what a nice word.
I have shared some vacations that I have taken, and plan to take in the future, but one vacation that I hold dearest to my heart is the one we take in July. Same place, same time every year...for the past.......I don't know how many years. I tried adding it up once, but lost track. It's close to 30 years for me....but close to 45/50 years for my dad. I grew up going to the same spot my dad grew up going to in Northern Wisconsin. A small family owned resort that has the same smells and feel as it did when I was six years old.
The last five minutes of the eight hour drive are always the longest, but at the very last second, right before we arrive to the lodge, we catch our first glimpse of the lake. We open the car door and take a deep breath of the woods/lake/and someones early lunch of grilled burgers and hot dogs. We can't unpack fast enough....(our secret can now come out.....as kids would do a great job of annoying our parents the last hour of the drive so when we arrived they would tell us to go play while they unpacked....all part of the plan!)
The week is filled with late mornings of drinking coffee on the deck, afternoons with coolers filled with dips/chips, sandwiches, cookies, soda, water, beer, long boat rides, dinner eatin at the local pub wearing a wet swimsuit covered in jean shorts and t-shirts.
When the sun goes down and all the boats are docked for the night, we gather around the same kitchen table that has been there since the beginning and bond...sometimes over a game, sometimes over a glass of milk and a Ho-Ho. But we share our laughter, our cries, our cries from laughter.
Over the years, I have celebrated this week with countless family members and many friends. And at some point during the week I am reminded of one particular person and smile at the memory. Most recently I have shared a cabin with my parents, my husband, my son, and our dearest friend. As it will be this year!
I cherish the thought that Daylen will grow up with these memories, as I did, and as my dad did.
YAY for Summer and triple YAY for vacation!!!!
