Summer's Melting Away

All the calendars say that school starts Wednesday, September 11, 2010.  The reality is that the phone has begun to ring and anxious parents are on the other end of the line.  Letters from the district have snuck their way into the mailbox, filled with schedules and agendas for all the pre-school year meetings.  Committees are soliciting new members, colleagues want to meet, emails are flowing and suddenly I have a sneaking suspicion that this marvelous thing called summer vacation is more or less over.  Instead of getting all sad sally, I thought it'd feel a heck of a lot better to review all the incredible stuff that I got to experience over the last few months.  So, in chronological order...

Sunday, May 30, 2010 - Jason and Julianna's Wedding

Having known Julianna since childhood and Jason since middle school and all the myriad ways our families are interconnected, this wedding was one of the best I have known.  I was so thrilled and honored (and nervous!) to be their pianist.  But more than that, I loved the way all of us once again came together to help put together a great event.  From the invites to the food to the decorations, we all had a hand in it, and Jason and Julianna absolutely deserved it.

Friday, June 6, 2010 - Loretta's Surprise Birthday Party

I subjected Loretta to a bday extravaganza in order to celebrate her quarter century mark.  Loretta was presented a series of riddles and clues, each leading to a different establishment meaningful to her in someway.  At each place, she went in to and received a mini-present that I had paid for and arranged in advance.  She got a carwash gift certificate in Brookfield, a free scoop of custard at Kopps, a chocolate drink at Ghirardelli, and a gift card to White House/Black Market.  At the conclusion of the scavenger hunt, she was forced to don the lovely blindfold glasses shown in the photo, and I led her down to... a dock where all of our friends were waiting!  We took a boat tour of the Milwaukee waterfront, which was very beautiful.  That was followed by dinner and cake at Stack'd Burger Bar in the Third Ward.  Planning something special for a friend is so satisfying and I wouldn't want any less for Loretta.  What a happy birthday :)

Friday, June 18, 2010 - Chris and Katie's Wedding

This picture says it all.  Katie's happy, Aidan's happy, and it's perfect (thanks to the other Emily for such a great shot).  School was barely out, and we all loaded onto planes and jetted down to the Mexican coast to celebrate Katie and Chris's union.  We stayed at a beautiful resort and the wedding took place on the beach right in front of the ocean.  Putting aside my extreme aversion for heat (which was overly plentiful in Mexico) was well worth it in order to be there for this.

Monday, June 28, 2010 - Family Camp

This was Family Camp #25 for me... haven't missed a summer since I was four months old.  This year, however, was very bittersweet.  I was able to go and to spend time with my aunt and uncle and many of our usual camp friends, but distinctly absent was my mother and my grandfather.  My grandfather (affectionately known as G-pops) has seen a dramatic decline in his health over the last year and so after many, many years of living and volunteering at Camp Fairwood every summer, he has had to relinquish his position as the engineer of the barrel train (and the dining hall sweeper, and the trench digger, etc. etc. etc.) My mom was not with me at Family Camp for the first time because she was at home taking care of him.  We all knew this time would someday come, but that doesn't necessarily make it easier.  Family Camp was fun, but there's a reason it's called Family Camp... it's better with (all) your family.

Fourth of July Weekend - Door County

This photo was not my first choice.  Don't get me wrong- the Stoeckmann children are all very adorable and I like them quite a bit.  But a picture of me running out into the middle of a parade to get lassoed by a cowboy on a horse is a special treasure that your average facebook friend isn't good enough for.  Unfortunately, I couldn't get it to cooperate and pop up here, which is why we're back to Amanda, Loretta, and Jake.  The Stoeckmanns were gracious (or silly) enough to allow me to crash their family vacation in Door County.  We saw fireworks of all varieties from all angles (including walking through a swamp to a tiny, postage-stamp beach), took in a sweet parade (and got lassoed), shopped, trapped Jake on the deck, golfed (and nearly died doing so), played some sweet Pictionary Telephone, and watched a gazillion hours of World Cup soccer.  I had a ggggggggggreat time (in the words of Tony the Tiger) because the Stoeckmanns are good people and I'm pretty darn grrrrrrrrrrateful they let me hang around.

Thursday, July 29, 2010 - Goodbye Onos

The biggest semi you can possibly imagine was heaved up over the curb.  The house was completely empty and one family's entire life was stacked up in the moving truck.  I am standing on the front lawn, dwaddling.  Not really wanting to leave.  Unready to say goodbye to Ken and Erika, Sage and Aspen.  Four years is a long time to play back-up parent for a couple of kids.  Their move to Georgia is a good one for them, but not for me.  After I finally got around to actually leaving, I got in my little car and cried halfway home from Madison.  When I called my mom to point out that I was upset, she wasn't surprised in the least.  You wouldn't believe how deep a little Sagie can crawl into your heart.  It's not easy to let go.

Saturday, July 31, 2010 - Yellowstone!

There's not a whole lot I can say about our trip in one tiny little paragraph that would be adequate.  It was a great adventure with great people and I wouldn't have traded it for any other trip.  It was the perfect cap to a great summer.

Thursday, August 12, 2010 - Up North

Nothing fancy about this.  Two cabins.  Three families.  Everybody loves everybody else, everyone's comfortable, everyone's happy, and everyone's having fun.  We shared good food (homemade and dining out), played games, soaked up the sun, enjoyed the water, and talked nose rings.  I could do this kind of thing every weekend.  Anyone else?


Alright, alright.  Summer's not quite over yet.  There are still a few tidbits left... Brewer game with Loretta, a Prison Break party, a trip to Devil's Lake.  But what has happened so far has been darned good, and we haven't even covered Brewer Block Parties, Andrew and Kaitlyn's engagement, State Fair, etc.  I am blessed :)