Hello friends. Welcome to the blog. Thanks so much to all who commented on Monday’s post. Those who continued to show up here in my little corner of the internet even as I was “away” for three weeks. It really was encouraging. I appreciate all the kind comments. Wednesdays have become a day for linking up with Joyce for the Hodge Podge. I will just jump right in. I’m exciting because it starts off with SUMMER!!
1. Summer’s here! In the northern hemisphere anyway:) What do you love most? What’s your biggest summer pet peeve? Hooray for summer! I love the sun-drenched days. The sun peeking through my bedroom extra early in the morning. And then not setting again until almost 16 hours later! Sunshine makes me happy! I honestly have few complaints about summer but, if I were to choose one “pet peeve,” it would probably be humidity. It has not been horrible yet but I know it can be oppressive. (But let’s not think about that!)
2. What song always reminds you of summer? Probably something (anything) from the Beach Boys! I has been while since I listened to the Beach Boys but when I do hear one of their tunes, I’m quickly an early teenager on summer break and lovin’ life!
3. What’s something you remember about your childhood summers? Do you think kids today get to enjoy summer the way you did as a child? Elaborate. I went to public school (had never heard of homeschool, by the way) and sumer was three months. Three highly anticipated months that were full of unstructured days and lots of fun with friends. We were on our bikes every day. Going to a friend’s house. Exploring. Or headed to the neighborhood pool. So much time spent at the pool. Ah, but life in the summer was carefree. We did not have planned play dates. We did not have video games. We did not have sports (or other) commitments three days a week. But we were not bored and summers were the best.
Summers also meant family vacation. We would visit my grandparents but we also took a road trip/vacation to Florida once every year. During the summer. Everyone vacationed in the summer. I had never heard of family vacations at any other time during the year. My dad loved (LOVED) Florida and we never went anywhere else. Our Florida vacations were the best! I’ve blogged about them before. For example, here. (I actually share some photos in that post.) I have some of the best memories of piling into the family wagon and heading to Florida…and of all the fun we had while we were there. There is also this one about summer memories in general:)
4. We celebrate Father’s Day on June 21st. Do you favor your dad in looks or temperament? Tell us something about your dad…or your grandpa. I’ve talked about my father several times. I do have much more of his temperament. And I certainly look like him…more and more so as the years go by. I’m okay with that! Interestingly, my brother not only looks like Mom but he has much more of her personality. I think it is interesting how that happens:) This photo is of Mom and Dad (probably just before my time…), but I think I will share about my granddad today.
My grandparents were my biggest fans. Without a doubt. Grandma loved me big. Truthfully, she spoiled me. She was never shy about her love and feelings for me. Granddad loved me as much, for sure, but was not indulgent. He simply supported, encouraged and had a way of making me feel special. Not matter how awkward I was, how insecure I felt or however I might be bumbling along, knowing Granddad was “on my side” made all the difference. His (and my grandmother’s) love was the definition of unconditional.
5. Let’s wrap up with a summer this or that-
- flip flops or sandals – sandals. I do not wear flip flops. I know…crazy. But true.
- beach or pool – pool, for sure. Definitely not a beach girl (and, so, no need for flip flops…lol!)
- watermelon or peaches – peaches. I do like watermelon. At all.
- shorts or sundress – sundress. Give me all the dresses!
- iced coffee or ice cold lemonade – lemonade, although I would prefer iced tea. Coffee is definitely not supposed to be iced!
- amusement park or water park – for sure, neither.
6. Insert your own random thought here. That was probably the easiest this or that I’ve ever done. Sometimes it can be hard to choose, or decide. These were definite either or’s for me. Just for kicks and giggles, let me share an abbreviated version of my brother’s travel disaster last week. You can thank me for the short version but, even then, what he went through for a short visit is hard to even believe. But I exaggerate not!
Editor’s note: I had to scrape all the details. It was simply too much. Suffice it to say, during the two trips (here and back home), there were four delayed flights, two completely canceled flights, one unplanned overnight in an airport (waiting for a flight that would eventually be delayed twice) and, just for good measure, one “dead battery” on his ride taking him to the airport. (We had to drive 2 hours to get him but were able to get him to the airport with 50 minutes to spare.) There were little to no explanations from the airlines and very little compensation….not that being compensated would have relieved the nightmare that had become his trip. I felt so badly for him. I must say, of the two of us, he is much more the patient one. After each delay, cancellation and ridiculous solution the airlines would offer, he was always finding “the silver lining” and keeping a positive attitude.
I’m glad he did, indeed, finally make it home. Huge sigh. I’m also glad he made the trip and we had a few days together. We have vacation plans in September and I have to admit, the flying part kind of makes me nervous. Ugh.
Thanks for stopping by today. You can find the rest of the Hodge Podge here. Reading others’ answers is always fun! Happy Wednesday!
Oh my. The travel woes sound large and aggravating, but I’m glad he made it home. My oldest daughter and her family just got back from a trip to the UK and travel went off without a hitch, so it’s possible. Hoping your September trip is the same. I recently read an article about how grandfathers in particular can impact children in a positive way, which I think is the way you described yours. Knowing they’re for you is a big confidence builder. I struggled a bit with the this or that as I pretty much love them all. Except amusement parks! Have a great day!
Hi Jennifer! Thanks for sharing your brother’s traveling woes. It just reinforces to me why I won’t fly. Thank you for sharing about your grandparents. Loved the summer months growing up because we (my sister and I) would spend the entire summer with my grandparents in Connecticut — playing with friends, riding bikes, going to the beach and/or the neighbor’s pool, and taking random day trips. Happy Wednesday!
What a fun Hodgepodge today! And thanks, Friend, for sharing about your brother’s trip recently. I do not do well in those situations and I’m pretty sure I have given up flying. I still have two granddaughters in Maine who will get married one day and I wouldn’t want to miss that…and there is now a direct flight from Pittsburgh to Portland. But I wouldn’t want to have to depend on making connections or being stuck in the airport terminal for any length of time. Hope the rest of your week is good!xx
OH your poor brother! We found very little information and little to no compensation coming our way after our disastrously delayed flight left us in North Carolina for an extra week and we ended up swapping airlines just to make it home. Pretty sure I’ll never fly American Airlines again… and just keeping my fingers crossed the other airlines don’t pull something similar!
Flip flop haters unite! It’s great to find another one at last 😂
Ugh with the flying woes. I used to love flying but I think twice about it now. It’s convenient and that’s it. I enjoy how you always put so much thought to the questions.
I said almost the same for question 1. Sunshine makes me so happy too!
Those carefree summers days were the best and your trips to Florida sound brilliant.
Aww! How wonderful to read about your grandparents!
Oh gosh! What a nightmare you brother had with his travel.
I don’t wear flip flops either!! Your brother’s travel story is the stuff nightmares are made of! And thankfully he has a lot of patience. That is something I don’t have. Regarding looks and temperament, Alyssa looks a lot like my husband but has more of my personality. I’d say Jacob looks more like me and he has my temperament. Same for Abby! My poor kids don’t have Donnie’s abounding optimism!! How wonderful to have had grandparents who poured into you. Enjoyed reading your answers!
Fun questions and answers! I don’t wear flip-flops either! I just don’t care about traveling very far anymore. Something always happens, it seems. Summers were different when I was a kid… no phones, no computers, and only three stations on TV. We had to make our own fun. Things were sweeter, I think. I enjoyed my visit here! xo
Traveling by air is an adventure these days for sure but no one should have to endure what your poor son did. Would love to know what airline he was flying. My brother swears American is the worst and he travels very often. We have had bad experiences with United.
Sounds like you were beloved by your grandparents. I didn’t know either of my grandfathers so I don’t know what that relationship would look like. We lived many, many miles from my grandmothers so didn’t really know them that well. What a blessing your grandparents were.
Leslie at https://onceuponatimehappilyeverafteragain.blogspot.com/
The Beach Boys are a good choice. Summers were the best. Played outside all day and in the evening too. We need to watch kids closer these days. Interesting how those looks and personalities show up. Like yiur answers for #5.
Your random….what a mess that was.
Hello! I am getting caught up and am always happy to visit with you here! I do not like flip-flops. I cannot take the sound! I hope you are all recovered, feeling well, and are enjoying a lovely summer. Have a cozy evening, my friend.
Hello! I loved reading all your answers and your this and that. 🙂
I would have hated that travel plan. Plan being the loose word here. Bless his heart.
I love summer for all the reasons you mentioned. Long days with a relaxed schedule. I feel like am a Lone Ranger these days in loving it though. My grandkids have so many things scheduled that they don’t know how to play without it being something they are told to do. It should not be that way. I am working on it!
Oh gosh, tell me it wasn’t American he was flying. That’s What I flew coming home from Ohio and I had a total of an 8 3/4 hour delay (it kept changing, along with the gates), different planes (all having issues by the way). I was supposed to get home at 2:45, I didn’t land until 11:15 at night. I had to work the next day. I was NOT happy. On the positive side, all the people who were on my flight were fun and we all had fun together, making jokes, checking apps, etc. I told my husband I almost brought home a few strays.
I enjoyed your other answers too.
Ugh. It was not American but I just keep hearing travel horror stories…and they seem to be across the board! Doesn’t seem to matter which airline you fly!? UGH!!