All my friends that have children are so funny about August. Half of them are sending kids off to kindergarten and so they have broken hearts and empty houses during the day. The other half are counting the days until school starts back and their favorite commercial is the office supply store one with the dad dancing around to “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”
We returned from our week-long family beach trip yesterday and we are happy, slightly tan and rested but exhausted, if that makes sense. We’re exhausted from visiting, from finding things to talk about with people who can’t count conversation as their strong suit, and from filling our bellies with shrimp, crab and fish. (And maybe some cheese dip and margaritas and cookies and lemon meringue pie and tomato sandwiches with real mayonnaise and ice cream…)
We are rested though, because we basically did nothing. The most exercise we got was from hauling our crap down to the beach and back up to the house, and really BB did that. We swam – a lot – and we lolled about in the sand until we got rashy and bumpy, which is an okay trade off. We played shark and pulled our nieces around in innertubes. We people-watched and criticized bathing suits and tattoos (we already know we’re hypocrites, don’t worry). We read books, had deep discussions and tried to avoid olive appetizers and bourbon slushies. (Eww and eww.)
In short, we had a really good time.
Now, though, the real world faces us, as it does everyone who returns from vacation, and for me, school will begin in a week. I will be teaching a class of 75 students (in an auditorium!) once a week, after my regular job. We will register new students, encourage the old ones and smile the smile of this-summer-wasn’t-nearly-long-enough.
I’m kind of with the kindergarten mothers: I’m not ready to let go, even though it’s time this weather cooled the hell off already. I’m also ready for football and for daylight to go away before bedtime. When you live here though, the seasons don’t change quickly, or on time.
Some days I’m really surprised that I’m not in charge of the world. I really am.
Very happy to have you back, as I only just found you and you ran away…
Don’t worry, I didn’t take it personally.
Lookign forward to continuing my fledgling girl crush, as I thoroughly enjoyed the posts I’ve read (Okay I’m pretty busy so I’cve only read a few, but they. were. awesome.).
Your devoted reader,
B
Thank you for being such a devoted reader, B! I didn’t run, just took a break. Hope your crush continues because there’s a lot of stuff to read!
Glad you had a good time. I am so over this ghastly heat.
olive
You and me both. Does Canada ever get hot? Or Iceland? How about Alaska? I’m game for any and all.