Summer Fling

My friend Rachel has inspired me with her summer to-do list and it made me think about what I want my summer to look like. Living in Austin means that summer really lasts from May 1-October 1, weather-wise, but there is definitely a special feel to June, July, and August. And when I say "special" I mean extra-super-incredibly-holy-moley hot.

So we find creative ways to stay cool when the sun is beating down. Plenty of pool time and plenty of places with air conditioning blasting away, keeping the electric company in business. This is my fourth summer in Texas, and my fourteenth summer living south of the Mason-Dixon line. It's definitely different from the summers I spent in northern Indiana, with its warm, dry days and cooler evenings filled with fireflies illuminating the night sky.

Now that I am grown and haven't spent a whole summer in Indiana since 1992, for the last several years my sister and I have planned what we call "Summer Fling" - two weeks for the two of us and our kids at our parents' house. Two blissful weeks of cousin time, sister time, mom and dad time, daughter time, and friend time. Time well spent lounging by the pool... going to the 4H fair... grilling hamburgers and pizza... attending the Chakans' annual corn and sausage roast... ice cream at the Simonton Lake Drive-In...

Time for family. And when I say "family" I mean "including the incredible friends who grew up with me."

Some of my favorite summer memories...

Bomb pops and ice creams trucks

Bikinis and lifeguards

Hamburgers on the grill

Cold margaritas and hot salsa

Ghost in the Graveyard and tennis in the street

Bike races and rides up to the drugstore for candy bars

Bubbles and green grass that softly caresses your feet