A Summer of ....? - Part One

Whew! Here we are. The last Friday of Summer "Vacation". Labor Day weekend is here.

Listening to "Moses and Marco Polo Suite with Yo-Yo Ma... Lovely!  I was on the front porch for a bit but the humidity chased me off.

So I am here, in the living room, with Miss Amy sprawled across the rug looking very, very relaxed. She lays on her back and bears more than a passing resemblance to a sea otter floating across the ocean trying to open a sea urchin!

I digress....Summer "Vacation"...yes. The word "vacation" is defined as.."A period of time devoted to pleasure, rest, or relaxation, especially one with pay granted to an employee." Okay, let's look at this.

First off, my husband and I are, for the most part, self employed. You should see the pile of 1099 forms at tax time. No pay granted for time off here. After having spent time in the cubicles and offices of the business world, I have to say that I do like that fact that every day is different, for me. I miss the camaraderie and the gathering around the coffee station to talk over the previous evening's events or to catch up on the latest gossip. Sometimes I miss the clockwork of being paid on the 15th and 30th of every month. I don't miss the morning commute or the office politics or the dictation of my time. Trade- offs, to be sure.

So I wanted to take a moment and account for my time - my summer time - here - to remind myself of why my life is as it is and why, for the most part, I continue to chose to go on as I do.

The month of June was a whirlwind of activities. Mallory turned 14 and we celebrated in a very laid back fashion. I remember how my mother always made every birthday feel special and that has passed on to me and how I want my daughter to feel. What does a 14 year old love to do? Go to the mall, of course!!! So Mr. Stephen and I took Mal to the mall and we shopped. First stop was the food court and then we hit all her favorite stores. Now, I have to add here, we do almost 95% of our clothes shopping in resale stores. Mal and I have a lot of fun finding treasures. The concept of getting a lot for a little and recycling to boot has helped her understand and appreciate value vs. consumerism. As much as she loves to visit the mall with friends she is also a bit put out by the cost of things - I am too! The mall represents a bit of freedom from parents and a chance to hang out and be. I get that.

Okay, so we had a very nice evening together and she proclaimed it one of the best birthdays ever. She did have a birthday sleepover on that Friday, complete with ice cream cake and a birthday breakfast for the gals the next day. That was also the day of the 8th Grade Party at school which I was able to work a few hours at. It was a giant outdoor event that was well planned and the kids really had a great time. It was a special birthday and I was very satisfied that her "well" got filled that week.

I write of the "well" of love, support and family spirit that keeps us going through the worst moments of self doubt, betrayal or disappointment. My parents did a fine job of that. As I get older and hear more stories of friends and family I now see that that is, quite often, not the norm.

Marching Band began to, quickly, take over the summer plans. Mal joined the Color Guard in May and marched in her first parade on Memorial Day. She starts as a Freshman next week. What a terrific intro to her high school career. June saw a three day "mini-camp" for the Marching Band and she jumped in with both feet. It will be a great group to see her over the hump of High School Daze!

 

 

 

A Summer of ...? Part Two

Continuing on with the month of June..... We started our usual round of Summer Theater Camp. This year was different as we changed venues and were at two locations. According to the Sky's the Limit website we worked with 187 kids ranging in age from 4 - 15 years old. We had six performances and, hopefully, sparked some children to continue to seek out new experiences and to not be fearful of new environments nor meeting other kids. It was a very successful season and we worked well, as a team.

We had a unique family experience, mid month, to attend the Detroit Gold Cup Boat Races. We were on the lawn of an amazing house - neighbors on the block include the Mayor of Detroit and Kid Rock - and were right in the thick of the action! Man, those boats are LOUD!!

Mal on Memorial Day. First FHSMB parade!

I travelled to the Thumb with my longtime gal pal to be a part of her nephew's graduation party. It was a fun trip filled with a bit of drama, lots of laughter and excellent food.

On the beach in the Thumb
 

And then we went right into the 4th of July - the traditional mid-point of the Summer Season. Up north we went and met up with my brother-in-law and his partner and my in-laws. Cherry Festival in Traverse City and we hit the midway!

Cherry Festival 2013
 

Three of us on the Detroit River for the Detroit Gold Cup Races

Mal headed off, on the 4th, with her dad to the U.P. and a family reunion, of sorts there. Watching the fireworks over the Bay is something we look forward to every year. I missed Mal like crazy but I knew she was also watching the spectacle overlooking Lake Michigan and knew she was having fun.

Returning refreshed, we jumped back into Summer Camp and Marching Band practices. Stephen landed a big contract (!!!!) and continued the treks back and forth to Saginaw, working as a team on another big project there. Mal and I had the chance to stop and see the progress. The church is amazing and we enjoyed seeing the place.

I continued to teach and to work the camps. My studio was able to put on a lovely recital at First Presbyterian in South Lyon at the top of August. I was scurrying around and neglected to take a single photo - drat. It was a lovely morning, nonetheless, and I was very proud of what the singers presented.

August was also the point where we parted company with Mallory. She headed off to Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp to study cello and have a great orchestral experience. This is her second year and she had a great time.

Our girl just after placement auditions

Camper and Alumni!

Stephen and I enjoyed some great beach time, both with friends and alone, and also managed to squeeze in a romantic bed and breakfast weekend as well. Here is the link for this lovely destination!

Breakfast at the Hexagon House!

My love and I on the beach in Ludington

So Mal had her session at Blue Lake and we reconnected with friends, had cocktails and some relaxing dinners on the porch.

Got in some Summer Reading as well and here is what I got through....

"Vampires of Hollywood" by Andrienne Barbeau. If you are old enough to remember "Maude" then you will recognize the name. A fun romp tied into lots of real locales.
"When Madeline was Young" by Jane Hamilton. I have read a couple other novels by this author, all very good.
"22 Britannia Road" by Amanda Hodgkinson. This novel is really amazing and follows two Poles that each get through the horrors of WW2 in their own ways. Amazing read.
"In the Company of the Courtesan" by Sarah Dunant. A very interesting look into a 16th century Italy and how one woman strives to survive and make a name and a living for herself and her partner. A real thought provoker of how certain women struggled to work the system....
"My Antonia" by Willa Cather. I can't believe I am just getting to this classic. I highly recommend it!
"The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri. This was made into a movie, as stated on the cover, but I have not seen it. A very good read about cultures colliding.
"Nightwoods" by Charles Frazier. A strange read but very compelling.
"Barefoot" by Elin Hilderbrand. I very much enjoyed this novel about two sisters and a friend who spend a summer season on Nantucket Island. Very interesting characters who are all at a crossroad, of one kind or another.
"Bossy Pants" is a really fun romp through the life and mind of Tina Fey.
"Mr. Murder" by Dean Koontz. I have read so many of his books that I was happy to see I had missed one. Always fun!

At the end of the Blue Lake session we met up with Steve's parents to enjoy the final concert of the season.

March of Carmen

Amazing Grace arr. Elliot Del Borgo

Declarations, Jeffrey Bishop

By Loch and Mountain, Robert Smith

Fiddler's Fantasy, Ron Sadlier

Viva La Vida, Coldplay

Overture to Nabucco

 

We had a quick lunch and we were off to take Mal to Marching Band Camp at Camp Pendalouan. This is a YMCA camp set on Big Blue Lake. It was a really lovely setting for the kids to spend the week working their tails off to learn more of their competition set for Fall competitions. Steve and I got back home and continued to work the week until it was time to return, again, to the west side of the lake to get the Malster. We got a chance to see a display of the band and all they had learned in their week together. Mal was tired but happy - and CELL PHONE FREE for three weeks! Wow. Her first question to me...after a hug ..was "Did you bring my phone?"

 

We got in the car and drove up to the big lake for a wedding of a childhood friend of Steve's. This couple has been together for 10 years and decided to make it official. They chose Twin Lakes State Park and it was a perfect setting!!

All in all, it has been a good summer filled with fulfilling work, reconnection with family and friends and time on the beach. Lake Huron, Long Lake, Blue Lakes - little and big - and the Mama of all, for this trio, Lake Michigan. Hope your summer has been a time to kick back, even for an evening, and ponder the wonder of Summer in Michigan...or wherever you might be!