Sometimes I feel like I have lived several lifetimes. When I was young, summertime was filled with catching lightening bugs, playing with my neighbors, and riding my bike to the swimming pool. As a teen, I’d drive with my newly acquired driver’s license, along with my friends, to the local Dog N Suds. I’d vacation with my family in Louisiana, laughing and eating fried catfish in unimaginable sweltering heat with no air conditioning. At home, hot nights were spent lying on a blanket, sleeping with the mosquitoes to try to steal a breeze.

Then, as a fitting end to childhood, falling in love. My favorite time! Waiting for my date to pick me up as the sun became softer, lighting up my yellow walls and canopy bed until they seemed golden, reflecting that magical time as I listened to Jose Feliciano playing Light My Fire, brushing my long, black hair and hoping beyond hope that it wouldn’t frizz instantly in the Illinois humidity. There was no need to obsess. My one and only had the very same curly, frizzy hair. 

Flash forward to the births and raising of our own three children, running through the sprinkler on hot days, eating pbjs for lunch, and catching lightening bugs, once again having glorious days that cost nothing but time. 

Now, it is, once again, time for the swimming pool, now in my subdivision. I am now alone, the Captain of my Heart having flown on to our real, true Home. I am no longer flirting, looking at prospective boyfriends, nor spending endless days, poolside, playing cards with friends. I am recapturing those memories with my Joy Bubbles as we attempt to fall into the pool, backwards, copying the “Nestea Plunge” ads of old. I have taught my four granddaughters that summer is not complete unless you’ve had a frozen zero candy bar at the pool. They’re not as easy to find, these days, but, as long as Cracker Barrel carries them, we’re in business!

Summertime now comes with some spendable money. I can now rent a boat and share it with family. I can now go on vacation in Europe, but make no mistake: summer is in no way dependent on money to weave her magic. 

Summertime was and is the gateway to my own personal time machine. Summer days are truly endless. They alter a bit, but their framework will always remain magical.

Photo by Rakicevic Nenad on Pexels.com

I see memorial posts for so many young people killed in service, from the 1940’s until today. Such valiant, good looking people. I wish we didn’t have to say goodbye to them. I wish with all my heart that they had an opportunity to live the life God gave them without being robbed of it. They SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES so that we could live ours in peace. I just cannot afford to blithely go forward as if my life wasn’t bought at great cost and sacrifice: Jesus, my parents and the American soldier. I am the pearl of great price. When I feel down, insecure or not worthy I need to remember this. Many gave some, but some gave all for me.

Only after I had my own children could I appreciate all my parents gave up to have and care for me. My heart aches for the times I wasn’t appreciative. Sometimes I see it peek out on grandchildren when they get angry at some restriction, some denial. They have no idea how difficult it is to not give in but to stand up to them for what we believe is best for them. They don’t appreciate all the thought and care that go into doing our best to get them through childhood and sometimes having to fight them to do so! It’s HARD. Nobody tells you that. You think the tough part is the colic. You think it’s the nights spent over a feverish child, or staying up, helping them with homework, but it’s not. The toughest part, I think, is making your best decisions because you care so much, and to have them angry at you for it. No one tells you that you will have to fight THEM for the privilege of blessing them from time to time.

I did the same thing. The young are made to test and push boundaries. BOUNDARIES: That’s pretty much the job description of parent.

If they only knew…. One day they will. I hope their parents are still alive to thank.

Happy Dependence Day. A lot of people had to give up their lives, figuratively or literally for you. You owe a debt of gratitude you can never repay. Let that sink in on these days leading up to the 4th of July. Meanwhile, I have to face my challenge of how to thank parents who are no longer here to hear it. I get it, Jean Martin Williams. May this small, meager effort, putting my gratitude into  words, grow wings and somehow arrive into your hands.

For a few moments, put aside the baked beans, potato salad and watermelon. Lay down your sparklers momentarily. There are a lot of people you need to start thanking. You did not make yourself!

Enjoy the amazing day. Just don’t forget to thank the sponsors.