As summer draws to a close and fall is at hand, I look back at all the things that we did as a family, I did as an individual over the summer, the expected and the unexpected, firsts and the repeats, the predictable and the sweet surprises.
I had made up a list of things I wanted to do before summer was over and I’ve fulfilled everything on my list except going to the Wisconsin State Fair this year. It was just too hot and humid during the fair days and we could only go in the evening as a family, which is the most crowded time of the day. We were gone the weekend it opened and we did not want to go on its last day. So we ended up not going. I had taken the boys to a movie and the zoo once a month; I painted my toenails red; I wrote a poem; went to Brewers’ game and I laughed, sang, pray and counted my blessings every single day! Car shows, picnics and trips up north were repeats and expected, though each of them was special in its own way and different from the previous years, while the storm that brought down a big tree in the backyard was unexpected. We had our first Road America camping experience and watched our first Brewers game at Miller Park.
I did have a few sweet summer surprises this summer.
I surprised myself with the amount of time I spent reading. My goal for the summer was to read three books. I ended up reading seven and loved each one of them!
The camping at Road America was amazing and made me realize how much I missed camping. The last one before that was in 2007 with my brothers and folks at Wisconsin Dells.
The movie, A Walk to Remember, as well as the book and the soundtrack, became a surprised obsession of mine over the summer.
I surprised myself by loving to play the guitar, and even the keyboard toward the end, where I learned enough notes on my own to play a couple of songs. (But as soon as school started, I’ve abandoned it. So I’m out of practice and probably can’t recall those notes I’ve learned over the summer. ;o) Ugh!)
Another sweet surprise was how I loved the motorcycle ride Tom and I took one fine summer evening to the Motor Restaurant at the Harley Museum downtown. The last time I rode with him was also in 2007 going to Wisconsin Dells while my dad drove the truck that pulled the travel trailer. I look forward to another good ride next year.
Another sweet summer surprise was seeing Bob Costas at the Press Box after the Brewers-Padres game. He was within my arm’s reach but I was so stunned, I just stared at him! I wanted to tell him how I never miss watching Inside the NFL on HBO! (Oops. Actually, it used to be on HBO, now it's on SHOWTIME. Good thing I didn't open my mouth. That would have been embarrassing!)
I was surprised at how much my kids have grown, though I have expected them to grow physically and emotionally.
The last and probably the most important surprise that happened for me this summer was signing up to be a Catechist. I thought writing was my calling but I was called to something more during the last lagging days of summer. I prayed for a week for guidance and for the Holy Spirit to reveal to me what God wanted me to do. It took one look at my oldest son for me to decide.
Surprises. Sweet Surprises. I’ve never had this many in one summer. :o)
