It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

I love summer. Love love love, best time of the entire year. But sadly, this is also the season that goes by the quickest and is taken for granted so often. Example: I am quickly approaching my 21st birthday (not that old) and I have already had three summers that have basically been ignored. I worked full time (M-F 8-5) between my high school junior and senior year as well as my senior to college freshman year and then went to school and worked full time during my college junior to senior year. I didn't get sun (I'd forgotten how nice it is to not have glow-in-the-dark legs), I didn't get vacations, I got week breaks, but I was incredibly productive.

What? Since when was summer a time of productivity? It is a time of fun and recuperation and preparing yourself for the coming school year (I say this with complete bias since I will be in school for the rest of my life--if not teaching than ideally vicariously through my children). But no worries, these summers that were barely summers for me have been made up for in this summer alone. Really though.

Quick recap on my adventures these past couple months. Right after I moved home I went to Colorado (driving through Wyoming) then later I road tripped to San Francisco (driving through Nevada). A week later I went to Washington DC (layovers in Colorado and Nebraska and staying in Virginia). Two weeks after that I went to Idaho (with an evening trip into Montana). Including my home state Utah, In a matter of 4 months, I have been in 10 states. For not having anything planned when I moved home, not too shabby right?

Traveling like I have been has been awesome. 'Well naturally' you may say, but there is more too it. It has been so great to see people in all these places and continually realize that the world is not a scary place and there are so many people that are so nice and willing to help you out, even when you don't realize you are in fact in need of said help. I went to San Francisco with my best friend and we were continually being watched out for. It was amazing to us. From people helping us not get ripped off at an ATM, to figuring out how to use the muni and making sure our car didn't get towed and helping us order Chinese food and how to use chopsticks. In DC we talked to the greatest people on the metro that were so sweet in our maneuvering a stroller with an adorable-but-not-always-happy-16-month-old. At 4th of July celebrations the sweetest man next to us took pictures of my nephew to send to my sister-in-law and the littler kids all played with each other pushing leaves into the grate, no parents telling kids they weren't allowed to play with strangers. On the plane I got to sit by this lady who has a daughter who also looks like she is still in high school but is actually teaching and she was able to to give me some awesome advice and she was so interested in my well being, wishing me luck time and time again as we got off the plane. In Idaho my old professors said just the things I needed to hear and were so willing to talk to a former student who really just wanted to talk to people she admired and my family and roommates were so wonderful and accommodating to what turned our to be five different beds in five consecutive nights (I think I reached 'expert level' in couch surfing). Not to mention all the fun things that go on right here at home, reconnecting with friends from high school and meeting knew people every time you turn a corner, always looking for a new adventure.

I guess it is just so refreshing to go out, experience what is at home and so much more, seeing that there is goodness that is just waiting to be had. There is a world of filth, grim and low life, but beyond that there is a whole world of good, honest people who are looking to live a good life, just like us.

Plus there are beaches, shopping, museums, history, and all around good times too... What I am getting at is that even though Christmas is the most wonderful time of year, it is not even in the same league as summer.

Insta-Awesome

I keep having this reoccurring thought. There are a two things that just make everything better. I don't know why it is, but something about them radiates happiness. Perhaps it's the simplicity of these items or the youthful feeling that is commonly associated with them. Our inner child instantly rips off the bounds of adulthood and, even for just a moment, is inexplicably and indescribably euphoric while in the presence of them, regardless of whether it is in spirit or in flesh.  These items are accessible and inexpensive which makes them even better, if that is even possible. 

So what are these two magical, insta-awesome mystery items?

Glitter

and Rainbow Sprinkles. 

Tell me you didn't just feel that, or even just a little bit of an inner smile at least. And if  you really, honestly did not get any sense of joy from just thinking about those two things, here's a quick lesson as taught by Hobbes.

Shout out to my fellow Calvins.

Unexpected and Appreciated

Do you want to know what's nice?

When you're wearing basketball shorts and a t shirt, have leftover makeup on, your hair is pulled back from when you woke up, and when you're buying a headlight bulb to replace the burned out one on your car and when the guy standing around in the empty auto parts store is immediately at your beck and call and when he finds the bulb and then when he offers to put it in for you and then does quite quickly and successfully.

That's whats nice.

Old Glory

Oh say can you see, by the dawns early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

Do you want to know what my all time favorite holiday forever and always is? The fourth of July. Why? Well there are several reasons. I love fireworks. I love summer and July is when summer is finally in full swing. It is also the holiday with what I think is the perfect balance of family and friends. You wake up, go to a neighborhood breakfast or parade, you do some fun things with the fam, you meet up with your friends and go to concerts and fireworks and you go home happy.

Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thru the perilous fight

O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?

More so than all of this though, the sense of community is incomparable. At no other time is everyone so united than what this day brings in common for everyone; the many, priceless freedoms that were fought for by the founders of this country.

And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, 

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

Given our history, we (Americans) have not always been on the best of terms with our fellow man. Prejudices and wars among other things continue to provide a constant threat to what has become the power of America and yet on the fourth of July, we all gather regardless of what nationality you are or what denomination you follow, as one people; Americans. Whether your American is hyphenated with something else, we all have that one part that brings us together. This one day, every year, we all have the greater good in mind and gratitude in our hearts. That we are all here because we have a rich history that allows privileges and freedoms we take for granted and casually practice every single day.

O say does that star spangled banner yet wave

This year, my family had the amazing experience to go to Washington DC and celebrate there in true American fashion complete with a concert at the National Mall and fireworks lighting up the Washington Monument. Everyone around is sharing what they have, conversing with complete strangers in a most cordial manner and overall there is just a feeling of peace and unity. There is something magical about the moment the fireworks are going off, the National Anthem is being sung and everyone is standing, not as individuals with personal conquests and agendas, but as a nation that will never forget those brave men and women who fought for people they would never meet. That we will never forget what was given and given up to make the country that we live in today. I get chills every time I hear the Star Spangled Banner coming to close, listening to the profound words,

O'er the land of the free
and the home of the


Brave.