Hey all,
Do you remember that first week of school every year? That dreaded assignment, " What I did on my summer vacation"? Let's hear it!
Post your favorite summer adventure. There are no rules, other than What applies to the use of RR space. There are no prizes, just a chance to get to know our neighbors. Feel free to post all of those trips you took while sitting in your favorite chair. The trip around the cosmos to stop at Saturn's rings, the conversations with centaurs in ancient Greece, and even introduce us to the mindscapes of ant alternate realities you may have fallen into.
Prose, poetry, or images. All are welcome!

BJ

I already posted one of mine elsewhere. But I'll rewrite it here.

Just before Summer officially started, my daughters, my granddaughter, and I visited a local state park together. It's an annual pilgrimage started by my parents when I was young. When ever we have lived close enough I have observed the ritual.
It's in Douglas Massachusetts. There are miles of wooded pathways to wander and many wonderful discoveries to be made. 
We took a picnic and wandered around for hours. After a long walk through the marshier areas, we settled on the vast sandy beach for our lunch. While the grown-ups set up lunch on the shore, Mullaney was allowed to wander along the EDGE of the lake. She could take of her hiking boots and just dip her toes into the water. It was still winter cold and swimming was not allowed. 
I opened my sack and took out a towel and a spare set of clothes for the baby. My daughter Julie asked why I had brought them. She assured me that her daughter wouldn't go in. She knows the rules. I just smiled and sat down. There followed shortly a loud splash and A dripping sprite pounding up the beach, shouting, " Mama, Nana, Aunty Betty, did you see? Did you see? That mermaid pushed me right in!"
Julie turned slack jawed and I just held up the towel. She wrapped the baby in it and dropped her in my lap. She was quite put out, but it's tough to yell at your child when someone else, in this case a mermaid, is obviously at fault.
Mullaney settled in and chattered on about the dousing through lunch. After we ate we all went down to the waters edge to see the mermaid. Mullaney was worried that Julie would make the mermaid be in trouble with her Mom, she was after all only playing and wanted Mullaney to play with her. 
We searched for a while but we didn't see her. Julie was silently fuming, but we had fun anyway. After  a bit she calmed down. While we packed, Mullaney wandered the water's edge with Aunt Betty to say good bye to the mermaid and make sure she didn't get pushed in again.
Julie asked how I had known it would happen, I just smiled. She said something about how I think I know everything.  I just smiled. Finally she started giggling, then began laughing out loud. " Mom,"  she asked, "do you think it's the same on who pushed me in when I was three?"
I told her it was probably her daughter. We sat for a while in that easy silence you have at moment like that. Then we decided that we should go before sundown. 
We went to the lake's edge to collect her daughter, and mine. We shouted good bye to the mermaids. As we left I told them it was probably the granddaughter of the one who pushed me in when I was three. I'm sure I heard splashes and laughter on the wind.
Rituals are great memories. Perhaps dunking us was someone else's family tradition.

What is you most treasured summer memory?

Ah, I remember enjoying that story once before. Still wonderful. Here is something I just wrote up. I guess technically it's not a memory, since I don't remember it, but it is somewhat of a family legend by now.
~jon

Road Trip
J. M. Strother

It is truly amazing that I am alive, considering all the stupid things I did when I was a kid. It started at a remarkably young age too. I was too young to actually remember my first close call, but it was on a road trip to Virgina.

My father was one of those WWII transplants. He joined the Army in Virginia, then met my mom at a USO dance while stationed at Scott Field in western Illinois. After the war they settled in her home town, St. Louis, rather than his. I think dad had enough of the farm. But all his folks lived back in Virginia, so beginning in the 1950s we started making periodic pilgrimages back east to keep in touch.

I suppose it gets a little hectic doing a road trip with a car full of five kids, so I guess it's not too surprising that my folks were not exactly paying attention one hundred percent of the time.

I'm told I used to be fascinated watching my father shave, so it was just natural curiosity that got me interested in my dad's shaving kit. Like I said, I was too young to remember, but I'm told one of my siblings suddenly yelled out that I was bleeding. My dad quickly pulled over and my parents frantically yanked me out of the car, face bleeding profusely, my dad's razor in hand. The cuts were all superficial, but the incident was a real heart stopper for my folks.

Ah, the joys of parenting.

I love those ones! Every one remembers some huge moment in your life but you! They drag them out and dust them off every time the family gets together.

A new grandson, the first ever, and he's already making web sites.
2 months old, as you see.
http://rollin.witholin.com
That's the first share of many wild summer tales.

He's a delight! I loved the commentary. It's east to see you've been busy.

The summer vacation....

Oh that dreaded time of chaotic fervor. Trying to get as much accomplished as possible at home while also fitting in some visiting of people living far away. Fourteen precious days of doing what you want and when - NOT.....!

Pressure building as time flies so fast, almost as fast as your vehicle chews up tyres on the tour of friends.  Who else have you neglected during the year of routine work and school schedules? Who have I forgotten?

Oh...

Me....

:sneaky:  :biggrin:  :cursing: