Summer 2011: A Letter

Dear Summer of 2011,

You are going to go down as one of my favorite summers in recent memory for a few reasons. Let me count the 10 ways in which I loved you.

1. I was able to fully enjoy all you had to offer. With my master's behind me and no classes to hang over my head, I had very little to worry about from day to day. No assignments, no papers, no projects. After two summers filled with classes, I completely embraced having none of those responsibilities. {VICTORY.} Being done with that allowed me a little bit of this:
2. I had a new roommate. Not so much of the human kind, but of the rodent kind. Toms visited us for the summer from Emily's classroom and I loved having him around. He could only be cooler if he'd curl up on the couch with me and take a nap.
3. You brought me season 6 of Boy Meets World. This needs no explanation.

4. With you around, I was able to go downtown and meet my grown-up friends for lunch. This, for whatever reason, made me feel like a grown-up as well. You also allowed several trips to a favorite restaurant. Behold the rolls:

5. I got to work at PTS and enjoy helping new teachers find things for their classrooms. During the school year, teachers are often in a rush to find what they need and move on. Summer, you allow people, especially teachers, to move at a little bit of a slower pace and enjoy wandering. I like this about you.

6. You brought along this cute little squeeze. I'm excited to watch her grow up.

7. I got to go to Atlanta for a little down time away from the little bit of crazy that you provided. It wasn't a bad thing, the crazy, it was just starting a little too fast, so I escaped. Thanks to you, Summer, I was able to do that. Fall doesn't let me run away...and neither does Winter or Spring. Only you, Summer, only you.

8. I got to do fun things with friends because I didn't have papers to grade. This is one of my most favorite things about you, Summer. No papers to grade. Let's just let that sink in for a minute.

9. You always bring around VBS at church. There's just not much that's better than about 1,000 kids singing songs and dancing in the sanctuary.

10. I got to spend time with family. With Sister being a teacher too, and Mom's library schedule being different and the monsters not being in school either, things in our family get a lot more relaxed when you are around. I love my family so this is an especially nice perk of you being around.

Well, Summer, that's my top 10 things. Several of these have multiple stories that go along with them but you will be remembered in my heart and through pictures. Thanks for giving me some weeks to rest, relax and take in how blessed I really am...'cause let's be honest, sometimes when Fall, Winter and Spring try to kick my tail, I forget that all too easily. While I am excited about the things that your friends, the Seasons, have to offer, I am very grateful for all you brought about, too.

So...

Here's my offer...I'll be back next year for Summer: Version 2012 if you will be...see you then? {Check YES or NO}.

Love,
Karyn