The Summer That Wasn't
Jul 12, 2020
I’m trying so hard to be positive in this season. I’m healthy. I’m safe.
I’m trying my best to find the silver lining.
To not squander the gift of more time at home. Simpler life. Fewer outside distractions.
To not spend my time and energy focusing on the things that I cannot do right now.
I’m trying my hardest to let that shit go. But here’s the thing: summer is my FAVORITE! And there is so much summer I am missing this year.
I miss traveling, both domestically and abroad. It is rare that we are home during a summer weekend. Usually, we’re flying somewhere or heading to Sun Valley. We return back late Sunday night, and joke about needing a weekend to recover from the weekend we’ve just had. Because when we go and do, we eek out every possible moment of the weekend! This year, I’ve quit counting how many trips we’ve canceled.
I miss concerts and music festivals. Live music sets my soul on fire. There is something so energetic about seeing your favorite artists perform on stage. Singing the chorus, along with thousands of people. Dancing on the wall in the front row, or relaxing on a blanket at an outdoor venue. Some of my favorite summertime memories include friends and music festivals!
I miss live sports. No summer baseball games being played in Boise this year. When we’re doing yardwork, we listen to every the Chicago Cubs game on the radio. Not this year.
I miss summer nights at the Shakespeare Festival, and picnic-ing with friends. Mike and I had our first date at the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, a fantastic outdoor amphitheater on the Boise River. It is such a magical place! They stage award-winning performances each year. We return every year with a picnic dinner, a bottle or two of wine, and a dessert that we enjoy during intermission. “Shakespeare Under the Stars” just screams summer to me.
I miss backyard dinner parties with gobs of people and amazing food and wine. I love a good backyard party. Sometimes, they’re big: with a live band and a food truck and kegs of beer. But my favorites are smaller and more intimate. There is something so soul-filling about enjoying amazing food while sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with your friends in the backyard under white bistro lights. We eat well, and drink well, and share so much laughter!
I miss the fair. And the fair food. And the people-watching. And the over-priced beers. There’s something special about the midway and the carnival lights all lit up at night.
I miss the rodeo. We have one of the top night rodeos in the country in Caldwell, Idaho, just 30 minutes from Boise. The Caldwell Night Rodeo is one of my favorite nights every summer! I love pulling on my boots, and watching the cowboys and cowgirls compete for the buckle. I love dirt in the ring, and the small-town feel.
I miss team relay running races, where you pack half a dozen runners in a van, and take turns running over mountain passes. There is something so special about the bonding that happens in a relay van. When everyone is sweaty and sleep-deprived. But also fully energized at the same time.
I miss strolling through the farmer’s market on Saturday mornings, and planning summer meals around the fresh produce and local meats gathered there. The leafy greens and sweet fruits. The grass-fed beef. Freshly baked breads and pies. Gorgeous summer floral bouquets. There is something so French about a baguette peeking out the top of a woven bag full of farmer’s market goodness.
It just feels like all my favorite summer things have been canceled. Like there is not a lot to look forward to this summer.
And even when I can escape to the mountains or meet up with friends for a socially distance happy hour, things still feel off. No one is truly happy. We’re all just going through the motions. And doing so cautiously.
I’d say we’re learning resilience. And patience. And steadiness.
We’re learning to let go of the frenetic-ness. And the over-consumption. And the glorification of busy. And these are very good lessons to learn!
But damn, some days it’s hard to focus on the good. Some days, I just find myself mourning a “normal” summer. Some days, I just miss summer.
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