Last month I wrote about often calling June the “Friday night” of summer. I guess that makes July the Saturday of summer, and August the Sunday of summer. I could see that I suppose. I have definitely tried to cultivate a Saturday vibe over the last month.
I think I succeeded. July was fun and relaxed and I wasn’t even on vacation! I did a lot of work — running a survey for my next book and doing several interviews for it, doubling up on a lot of podcasting so I don’t have to record much in August, giving speeches, etc.
But there were also a lot of family and personal life highlights. July opened with that epic long weekend (basically July 2-7 for me…) during which we helped set off a lot of (safe and sane!) fireworks at a friend’s house, went to the beach, went on a family bike ride (almost all of us) and SHU and her family came over for recordings, swimming, and an adults-only dinner out featuring margaritas.
After that we sent various older boys off to camp at various points. My husband and I went to Longwood Gardens for the beer garden and the flowers. My daughter and I went to see Olivia Rodrigo, which was definitely a summer highlight. I enjoyed getting to know her music and the show was great! (My daughter was an excellent concert companion — I’m so glad she’s willing to hang out with me.) That weekend also featured the York State Fair where, among other things, I got to see the Flying Cortes act, with Commander Alexander getting shot out of a cannon. I was so fascinated that I reached out and was able to do a short phone interview with him this week. I have interviewed a lot of people about their careers and how they spend their time over the years, but never someone who works as a human cannonball. So look for that in my upcoming content.
There have been solo several bike rides, and lots of swims. As I wrote yesterday, we’ve gone in the pool most nights. I went in last night by myself for a while, then chatted with my 17-year-old in the hot tub until it was pitch black dark. (Theoretically the pool lights have been fixed, finally, but I don’t have the app to turn them on yet…) There have been a lot of strawberry acai lemonade refreshers from Starbucks, and evenings where I open the windows.
So there’s been a lot of summer already, and now it’s on to August, which is a full summer month for us (the kids don’t start school until after Labor Day). I just got an ad from Scandic Hotels this morning informing me that summer isn’t over yet. And it’s true! Just like on Sunday the weekend isn’t over yet. Unlike with July there actually will be vacations this month — both a more relaxing one and a more adventurous one. I’m hoping to use the fact that I’m ahead on some of the day-to-day work to open space for thinking deep thoughts. But we shall see.
I hope you have much to look forward to this August!
I always like to remind myself that for some European countries the summer vacation month is August, so August is STILL summer. Where we are school starts around Aug 20th so we still have a few weeks left. I am loving the lazier afternoons with no after-school activities for the kids. Planning lots of time on the boat, swimming, and solo rides on my SUP board. Also, doing morning coffee and sometimes Bible study out on my deck makes it feel like vacation (even though I am working).
I used to really struggle with Sundays and then found it helped to plan something fun on Sunday evenings. So filling up August with fun activities might help in the same way.
@SK- exactly – we can avoid the Sunday scaries by doing fun things Sunday night and it’s the same with August. Get every last little bit of summer out of this month 🙂
August is going to be fun. I have at least one fun thing planned for each week and will keep checking things off my Summer Fun list. August is my favorite month for a vacation, but this year I’m planning a party for Labor Day weekend (husband having a milestone birthday) and then am taking off the week of Labor Day to go to Door County (Wisconsin), our usual August vacation location. So, this year, I’m going to keep summer going well into September, even more so than I usually do. It helps to no longer have school age children!
@Holly – love the idea of taking the week of Labor Day as vacation – we’ve gone to some destinations in the past that are northern enough that fall is starting. For some reason I just love the idea of it still being summer break while fall is actually starting 🙂