A Fond Farewell to Summer 2019

As students and faculty gradually began returning to campus this week, I was greeted by the expected query into how I spent my summer. Did I do anything special? Did I travel anywhere interesting? I admit that I’m often the person asking these questions myself because I enjoy hearing about the travels and adventures of the people around me. But I’m keenly aware that my summer this year was not nearly as interesting to others as it might have been in years past.

For the first time in at least 20 years, I did not venture outside California during the summer. And except for a week at the Welk Resort near San Diego, I didn’t even leave Ventura County where we live. I had a true “stay-cation” this year and I loved every minute of it. But more importantly, I have more energy going into this new academic year. I’m not struggling with jet lag, not trying to catch up on things, and not stressed to put together plans for the fall. I should spend more summers like this.

In the minds of many, I had a pretty boring summer. My big accomplishment was completing the bulk of the planning for our 2020 Family Reunion in San Diego next July. We used the time at the Welk Resort to visit hotel locations and to secure both the hotel and the park site for our picnic. I gardened and treated friends, neighbors, and colleagues to fresh organic produce from my yard. We had more cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, onions, peaches, plums and apples than we could consume. I selfishly used all the strawberries and blueberries we grew in my morning shakes. I added seven new calf-length rompers to my wardrobe, complete with matching jewelry and shoes. I paid off my daughter’s ugly student loan, so now each of my children are student loan free, married, and homeowners as of this summer. I endured the replacement of two crowns at the dentist. I had a July 4th backyard barbecue and my kids and husband ended the summer by throwing me a surprise birthday party last weekend. Even my son traveled from Baltimore to attend. I was shocked by the party, but felt overwhelming grateful and happy to be surrounded by love. And the best news of the summer was that my health tests revealed no negative progression in my kidneys and no sign of the suspected degenerative nerve problem that threatened to disrupt our lives. Exercise, water, and better eating make a lot of difference.

For the last 23 years, my 11-month contract gives me the entire month of July off work. Unlike past years, each day in July this year I set out to tackle precisely one project in the morning after my 45 minutes on the treadmill. At noon, I treated myself to a nice lunch and spent the rest of the day until bedtime simply enjoying myself. Over the month, I cleaned, organized, painted, gardened, downsized, decorated, shopped, planned, and even enjoyed participating in an audit. During my leisure time, I completed four 1000 piece puzzles, read a few non-fiction books and spent the bulk of this leisure time watching Chinese, Taiwanese, or Korean television dramas with English subtitles. I don’t quite understand my sudden fascination with these cultures, but it is strong and I’ve even taken to listening to the music. Without trying, I’m learning a lot of Mandarin Chinese phrases.

So, it is with a great deal of fondness that I bid farewell to summer 2019. I’ll be sad to say “see you later” to the sweetest watermelon and corn on the cob. But if God is gracious to me, then summer 2020 will leave with a similar level of satisfaction and a host of lasting memories.