Summer is officially here; school is over and the kids are home from school. June 21 may be the equinox, but summer begins when school ends. Period.
The transition from school-life to summer-life is rocky in my household, and it always takes a few weeks of getting used to. Even my morning runs feel different in the summer. There’s a sense of urgency to get out and get it over with, so I can be home to supervise the lethargy that has a strangle-hold on my kids.
For a few days last week the weather even felt life summer, but now it just looks like more of the same Colorado-spring we’ve slogged through for the past three months. Clouds, cool mornings, and a fine sheen of pollen coating the insides of everyone’s nasal passages have become the norm.
My 10 year old daughter S is in basketball camp this week, giving her something to do for a few hours but not giving me enough time to get much accomplished. My son, C, has been a trouper, but it’s still hard to get all the thinking and planning done that has to happen when one is taking the kids on an 8-day camping trip while entertaining children. I’ve resorted to making lists, a lot of them. Lists of things to do, errands I need to run, loose ends that need tying and groceries I need to buy to suit our many dietary needs.
The one good thing I can say is that my body is feeling strong again. My legs and hips have that “runner” feel and when I ride my bike on a quick 10-mile loop, my hips respond by giving me more power. Even my shoulders have taken on a new toned shape. I’m thinking about getting a bike rack for the car so we can take our bikes on the camping trips this summer. Having the bikes with us will give us something to do when we’re in new places, rather than have to see all the sights from the car.
Summer is a catch-as-catch-can time of year, especially when it comes to routine. There’s always a lot of activity, but it’s incredibly spontaneous. This summer I expect to have a lot more bike rides and hikes than actual runs, and I’m kind of looking forward to the change in scenery!
