Getting my Gershwin on.

How cool is this glass cork?

This summer has been full of the innocent laughter of children, the easygoing laziness of long days, and the kind of energy that comes from being with great friends. Days like these make you want to put the summer in a bottle that perfectly fits in your pocket. . . . forever and ever. . .

These are also the days that remind you to count your blessings and teach your kids to do the same. Sigh. . . Yeah. I have been enjoying this summer. . . .yes, I have.

So much so that I feel compelled to break out in song. Wanna hear it? Here it go!

*ah hem, ah hem*
 

(Picture me loudly singing this with head back, eyes closed and jazz hands--because I am.) 

"Summertiiiiiiime. . .

And the livin' is eeeeeeea-sy. . .

*(picture my jazz hands really going crazy here)*

Fish are jumpiiiiin' . . . 

And the cotton is hiiiiiiiiigh . . . .

Your daddy's riiiiich

And your mama's goooood lookin'. . .  

Rich!! Really?

O-kay! O-kay! 
Your daddy's NOT rich, alright?

 But dammit--your mama's

DEFINITELY good lookin'!

I DARE YOU to say otherwise!
 

*Ah hem. . .where was I?  Mee-mee-meeee. . .*

. . . .So hush little baby
Don't you cry. . ."

~ lyrics by George Gershwin

Better yet. . .let's just let Ella and Satchmo sing it instead. That's what was playing on my mental iPod before I busted out into my own version anyway.  Grown folks--enjoy! (You youngsters don't know nothin' 'bout this here kind of music. . .I'm just sayin'.)

***

Happy End of Summer. 

Those summer. . . ni-ights!

Summer days, drifted away

But oh! Oh! The summer nights!

~ from Grease

Last night on the way home from an impromptu playdate with our good friends, The Nankervis/Esler Clan:


Isaiah: "That was fun, hanging out with Cassidy in the storm."

Zachary: "Fiona, too!"

Isaiah: "You were playing with Fiona. We're six so we were doing big kid things."

Me: "Hey guys. . . wasn't it funny that there was ice coming from the sky even in the summer?"

Isaiah: "Mom, are you talking about the hail storm?"

Me: (in my head) Yeah, wise ass.

Isaiah: "Boiled peanuts?"

Cassidy: "Yep. Boiled peanuts!"

Isaiah: "Tastes kind of unusual."

Cassidy: "To me, they're yummy!"

Isaiah: "Hey! The shells might make good boats for the river next to the cars!"

Cassidy: "Good idea!"

Me: "You and Cassidy and Zachary and Fiona are old friends."

Isaiah: "No, we are not old!"

Me: "Not you are old. But you've known each other for a long time. Like you and Cass met when you were only one. And Fi and Zach were only a few weeks old."

Isaiah: "I was only one?"

Me: "Yep. You hadn't even turned two yet!"

Zachary: "But no, Mommy. You and Fiona's mommy and daddy are old friends because you have to be old. But me and Fiona, we did used to be baby friends."

Me: "Baby friends, huh?"

Zachary: "Mommy?"

Me: "Yes?"

Zachary: "Now, I think we are in each other's family."

Me: "I like that. Old friends are like family."

Isaiah: "Wait--are you sure I was only one when I met Cassidy? I don't remember that. . . . I really don't."

In and out of screen doors. . . hail storms. . . laughter. . .Popsicles.. . .watermelon. . .mosquitoes . . .kids. . . life. . . .





. . . and witnessing all of the magic on a big covered porch with old old friends, young old friends, formerly baby friends. . . .and, of course, family. . . . .







*sigh*


This, my friends, is summer in the southern United States.

****
Happy Summer, y'all.

What's it like in your neck of the woods?

There's nothing new under the sun.

"Summer, summer, summer time

Time to sit back and unwind. . ."

~ DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince

Every now and then I find myself marveling at how much has changed since I was a kid. But yesterday, I found myself marveling at just how much has not.

Kids are still kids. Laughter is still laughter. Fun is still fun. The ice cream truck is still the ice cream truck. And. Summer is still summer.

Isaiah with one of my besties and med school classmates,Tracey (aka "Auntie Punkin")

The only difference is that now me and my friends are the ones sitting on decks and porches having those grown up conversations over barbecue and a-dult beverages. . . . and the ones telling children to wait thirty minutes after eating before jumping back into swimming pools. (Where that came from, I do not know--but even as a doctor, I'm not about to challenge it.)

Wait. Isn't the point of the obligatory thirty minute "rest and digest" to actually rest? That wouldn't include basketball or freeze tag, would it?

I'm sure our parents used to wonder when we'd get tired just like we were all wondering this day and just like our folks, carried our children's exhausted little bodies in from the car like limp rag dolls after a full day of everything from cannon balls to Marco! Polo! to double dutch to two on two basketball.

A lot as changed, yes. But I'm kind of happy to know that a whole lot of things haven't.

Is it thirty minutes yet???

***
Happy Summer.


Now playing on my mental iPod. . . .it's not summer until I hear this song. . .


What are your favorite summer memories?