I love summer, partly because it reminds me of happy times as a kid when vacation meant sleeping late, riding my bike all over the neighborhood, playing softball at the vacant lot around the corner, and going on a trip with my parents.
Summer feels like freedom and lack of responsibility, and although we are never far from that these days, summer just seems less stressful—a time when we can be outside, jump in the pool, or simply curl up and read a good book (I have a suggestion or two—like Keeping Faith or Promises Kept—I hear they are spectacular!!)
Since I live at the beach, I get to watch a lot of other folks enjoy their summer. Sometimes that is good; other times a real pain in the “you know where” because the island gets super busy. I think that going to the grocery store is the biggest issue because for some reason people think they should take everything out of the cart or basket, as we say down here, and put each item directly into a cooler for the beach while others are trying to park or simply drive through to get out of the mayhem.
Afterwards, all the trash is then left to blow around the parking lot. And putting the basket in the proper place is totally out of the question.
Today, I was at Wal-Mart, of course, and looking for something in the console, which made me slow to get out of my car. Just as I looked up, the group next to me—six kids and two adults squeezed through and left the oldest kid, who appeared to be about 10 or 11, to put all their packages in the trunk.
I remained in the car to watch because this seemed like a comedy act as he wedged all manner of stuff in between towels, a cooler, beach toys, etc. Then, in all his wisdom, he moved the cart back about a foot until it was directly in back of his mother’s Suburban, and jumped in the back seat.
As the driver started the car and proceeded to put it in reverse, I could stand it no longer. I jumped out of the car and grabbed the cart, just before it was a flat shred of wire. What was this kid thinking??? Geez, he needs to be in summer school instead of at the beach!! What’s worse, he’ll be in charge of watching the little ones!!