Growing up, I remember the summer months seemed to stretch out forever. Those long lazy days were punctuated with BBQ’s, swimming in the ponds on our farm, 4-H activities, family time with grandparents, aunts, uncles and lots of cousins, travel, camp, bike rides, and so many other ways my brother and I would fill our time. But the over-riding element was fun. There was always fun and laughter. I even remember one summer when our garden tomato plants were very productive, and mom canned so many things tomato based she was done. But what to do with all the tomatoes still on their vines. So, she suggested to my brother and me, “Why don’t you all go out and have a tomato fight?” And so, we did! It was a lot of fun as we tried valiantly to hit each other as we both ran around the farm and into the orchard trying to avoid being hit by a flying tomato. BTW…we were successful in using up the rest of the tomatoes.
Summertime was the time when we would make homemade ice cream. That is something I still try to do every once in a while. It isn’t as hard since I have an electric ice cream maker. I remember trying to turn that handle when the ice cream was almost done. That was usually when Dad would call us over and tell my brother and I it was our turn! I can still hear him laugh as we grabbed onto that handle and tried to crank the ice cream.
Summertime meant fishing. When my brother was younger, I had to bait his hook because he didn’t want to handle the worms we dug out of the garden to catch the fish. We could go fishing anytime we wanted as my grandpa dug two ponds on our property when we moved in and then stocked it with bass and even some trout since it was spring fed. Swimming in the ponds was always fun until you swam through where the springs were. The water was ice cold! But back to fishing…my cat Morris, a big old orange tabby, loved it when dad went fishing and he would sit on the banks and eat all the fish dad was willing to share with him. In addition to the fish we caught, we had tons of big ole bull frogs, so summer also meant frog leg dinners.
Summertime was also a time for sitting out after sundown looking up at all the stars. There would be so many. We saw falling stars and the Milky Way, and dad would teach us about the constellations. It was magical. Oh, and fun fact: It was also where I learned that Ohio has very large mosquitos and I was allergic to their bites. Fortunately, I grew out of my allergy. But stars and mosquitos were two of many things I learned about when we moved from California where I was born to Ohio when I was almost 8.
But then, we grew up and our summers were no longer the magical long stretches of time we could fill in however we chose. We have to work; we have to cook and clean…It seems our lives are filled with an awful lot of “we have to…” I long for those lazy days of summer when I could read a book all day if I wanted to or go on a bike ride to Williamsport or Johnsville to get a pop. My children still don’t understand why my brother and I would ride our bikes five miles just to get a drink. But mom didn’t keep any pop in the house except when we had parties so…if we wanted one that badly we hopped on our bikes.
As we begin the summer of 2024, what are some of your memories? What were the fun things you did when summer rolled around, and you thought you had all the time in the world?
As I consider this summer, I am going to see how I can stop the busyness of life and do something fun as I make new fun memories with family and friends. I hope you do too.
Peace,
Pastor Beth
Beth's Blog 