Restless about summer...

Remember when we were kids?  C'mon now, it wasn't THAT long ago.  Those last weeks of school?  Trying to stay focused for finals?  Finding it so difficult to sit in Ms. Johnson's classroom because the weather looked oh so nice outside?  And then that glorious moment came - the afternoon bell ending the last period on the last day of school!  Summer had arrived - sunshine, warm weather, the start of several months of vacation and, if you were a kid, pure unadulterated bliss!!!

I'm not sure if I continue to woo the inner child or something but those feelings of summer have never left me.  I still get a charge around the May/June timeframe, despite the fact that my work schedule doesn't follow the "9 months on - 3 months off" schedule from my grade school days.  There's just something about summertime that remains magical.  Admittedly, I have several things in adulthood that continue to make summer a special time of year - namely, the arrival of my son for his summer break.  Having Kellen for the whole season affords some amazing father/son time for a number of activities.  Even with the work demands, we always manage to create sensational memories from June until August.

In the spirit of the season, I decided to pen what summer means to me.  I imagine there'll be a few things on this list that strike a nostalgic or common chord with you the readers.  Feel free to reply back and share some of your summer traditions.  More importantly, make sure you're getting out there and making them happen.  After all, it won't be too long before Ms. Johnson's classroom beckons us once again...

• Outdoor concerts - there's just something about live music at an outdoor venue that's magical.  I recall The Chieftains, Barry Manilow (don't knock it - the man could definitely GIG), Earth/Wind/Fire, KC and the Sunshine Band, Boston/Styx, Maroon 5, Steve Miller Band, the Eagles, and so many others...

Pre-show anticipation!

• Weekends on Lake Lanier - my best friends owned a ski boat for a number of years and I have vivid memories of packing a picnic lunch, drinks, several books/games, and spending the entire day on the water.  Water floats, wipeouts on the Nautica inner tube, playing catch with water balls, smell of suntan lotion, great music on the water, rednecks parking their boat practically on top of ours, the beach mini-grill, tossing Kellen from the boat when he was MUCH smaller (now the kid could toss me), watching the jet boats cruise back and forth during Poker Run, the "Stacy Submersible"...

NYPD patrolling Lanier waters...

• Morning golf - Kellen would join "the regulars" for our weekly tradition of golf at Trophy Club.  Rich Palmieri, John Luker, Kellen, and I were the staples every Saturday morning for a little breakfast and a round of golf, usually followed by post-game sushi/Roasters or heading out on the boat (see above).  thrown clubs, bumper golf-carts, the occasional s* bomb, making Kellen run to catch up to the cart, refreshment cart girls, playing the Par 3 course at River Pines, Kellen's near demise from heat exhaustion at the Hooch (the acting job was legendary), the smell of freshly cut grass around the greens...

Rare photo of a golf legend...

• Topsail Island - for 13 straight years, Kellen and I have spent at least one week at the beach with my dear friend and former HS teacher, Dan Nukala (much nicer classroom than Ms. Johnson, by the way).  Topsail is located just north of Wilmington, North Carolina and remains a sleepy beach town that's never too crowded and always able to cure the stresses of work/school as only sleepy beach towns can.  Dan's brother working the grill, Dan's potato salad, viewing lightning storms from the patio porch facing the sea, searching for gators on the golf course, sand fleas, sea turtle hospital, Dave/Molly and pontoon boat rides, catching a movie in Wilmington, the USS North Carolina, the Serpentarium, Country Kitchen, rusty beach chairs, the art of doing nothing, the family reunion...

A very happy Kellen with Dan

• Summer camps - what would summer be without the obligatory summer camp for the kids?  Tired grownups, overexcited youth, it's a recipe for sheer disaster!  Kellen was no exception as he grew up with Nature Camp, Soccer Camp, Canoeing/Kayaking Camp.  My favorite years were the ones where flexibility at work afforded me the opportunity to volunteer as an adult instructor - some of the best bonding time you can imagine!  Kellen as a 6 year old, all sweaty and smiley, running and jumping in my arms at the end of Camp Elatchee Nature Adventure (sorry, folks, no other memory really matters...)

Two cousins and a kayak - what more do you need?!

• The Volunteer Firefighter - when Kellen was younger he was completely enamored with all things having to do with the art of firefighting: vehicles, outfits, the pumps, the ladders - the kid simply couldn't get enough.  As luck would have it, one of my best friends, Rich Palmieri, serves as a volunteer fireman with the City of Roswell.  No summer would be complete without taking Kellen for a tour of the firehouse and Rich was the coolest - allowing Kellen on the trucks, throwing him in an outfit/helmet, letting him pull off a hose.  The amazement in Kellen's eyes and the sheer joy of experimenting with his real passion - simply priceless!  lights/sirens on the Hummer, red plastic fire chief helmets, hoses and giggles, Kellen sacked out in the backseat of the car on the drive home from overstimulation...

Kellen and his IDOL!!

• Six Flags - what summer would be complete without at least one trip to the amusement park?  The rides, the shows, the really nasty food - it's a tradition!  I will never forget Kellen's first ride on a roller coaster when we was finally tall enough to meet the minimum height requirement - he was so proud and so self-assured...right up until we got close to actually boarding the ride.  The realization of having to face his fears was so evident on his face and the angst was palpable.  I'll never forget seeing his little head sinking WAY back into the headrest and seeing his little knuckles turn white from gripping so hard.  I'll also never forget that fear melting into sheer delight half-way through the ride when his panic turned to pleasure and little Kellen could be heard laughing and giggling through the loops and turns as a little boy transitioned into "little man-hood".  Cotton-candy, Skee-Ball, the Great Gasp (parachute ride) - literally,  bumper car mania, Kellen not wanting his hand held "cause big boys don't hold hands", frozen lemonade, Bat-Man roller coaster, SuperMan roller coaster, MindBender, water rides even when you knew the water was nasty JUST to cool off...

That's all for now.  The "boys of summer" are off on another adventure.  Here's hoping we'll see you in the sand, surf, or sun...