my summer of '69

I was driving a very familiar route this morning, windows down, music loud enough for me but not too loud for Scarlett. The weather was just perfect. The kids are out of school this week, April vacation. I pulled down a street to find children happily playing in their front yard. A little girl, skinny with youth, bouncing a basketball in her driveway. Her brother playfully falling down in the grass. I started to think back to when April vacation meant something to me. To when summer vacation meant the world to me.

Has it really been over twenty-five years since I was one of those children?? 

I was suddenly flooded by wonderful memories. Memories of my brother, who is three years older than I am, riding bikes with me for hours on end. Pretending to be "Cops and Robbers." Playing with our matchbox cars on the front steps to our home. Going through our big, red barrel of sports equipment everyday that it didn't rain and switching from soccer to baseball, basketball, football and tennis. Memories of my best friend Kim, who lived right across the street, playing Chinese Jump Rope. Hopscotch. Making "meals" out of orange berries in my plastic dishes that spent their downtime in my mother's old Fry-Daddy box. Sitting our favorite dolls in their highchairs and playing hairdresser, making some serious mistakes with our scissors. Perfecting our cartwheels, round-offs and back-handsprings. Not without injury. And requesting a bewildering amount of sleepovers.

We woke early. Everyday. We couldn't wait to get outside. Once we were out we never wanted to go back in again. There were endless games to play.

The song "Summer of '69" by Bryan Adams came on while I was daydreaming on this morning's car ride. And while I wasn't even an idea in my mother's mind back in 1969 I couldn't help relating to this song. After all, the height of its popularity was back in the very amazing, carefree times I was reminiscing of...

"Oh when I look back now
That summer seemed to last forever
And if I had the choice
Yeah, I'd always want to be there
Those were the best days of my life"

While I don't whole-heartedly believe that those were the best days of my LIFE I do believe that those were golden times. We had not a care in the world. We were young and filled with hope and excitability. We had a long road ahead of us and knew nothing of what it would entail. We didn't worry. Our days were endless and time was on our side. Youth is marvelous. If only we could understand that while we have the privilege of living those tender years...

Baby, you're gonna love this ...

When I was a little girl I absolutely loved looking through boxes of jewelry. I always asked my mom, grandmother and great aunt to pull out their gems so I could sit and try them on and obsess over them. Secretly wishing that they would hand over their diamonds to a messy, careless eight year old with no sense of responsibility or knowledge of value. I usually walked away empty handed but on occasion I would be given a strand of cheap beads or a gaudy cocktail ring that had no sentimental value to its old owner. And I LOVED these days.

I have remained a jewelry bug. My grandmother worked for a jeweler for many years and would bring home boxes and bags of fashion jewelry for me all the time. (And now my friend, Elisha, does the same for me!) I still get so excited each time. I always save some favorites, even after I outgrow  them. Each time I would buy or be gifted a jewelry box I would keep my old ones and the gems inside. In the back of my mind I think I was always saving it for my baby girl. Before I knew I would ever have her.

Scarlett may not know it but she already has a little collection of her own. I put aside a Hello Kitty tin and a Scooby Doo music box just for her. Inside- ankle bracelets, rings, a watch, necklaces, charms and even some flavored lip glosses - because I remember my mother having this orange flavored lip balm that I never could get enough of - I can still smell it.

I really hope she enjoys junk jewelry as much as her mama does. One day she'll ask to see my jewelry and I'll say, "Let's look at your jewelry!" She'll be able to wear these "gems" that very second and I won't care a lick if she loses one in the yard ...or on a sailboat. (Still sorry about your wedding band, Mom...)

Monday: minute by minute

It just hit me that today is Monday and I normally write my 'minute by minute' posts on Monday. Drat. Another day with minimal activity, although I did get a lot accomplished.

I knew it was going to be in the 80's today so I was admittedly a little over-excited to pick out Scarlett's outfit. She has sooooo many cute nine month outfits and I don't want her to outgrow them before it is warm enough to wear them! So I packed the diaper bag with two outfits and chose an adorable one for her first real taste of "summer"...

This was one of the very first outfits we bought for Scarlett the day we found out we were having a girl... May 5, 2011 to be exact. Wow, already almost a YEAR since that wonderful day!

I am slightly less fortunate when it comes to having a plethora of appropriate clothing for warm weather. I have plenty of shirts but when it comes to bottoms... it's maternity or bust. Crap. I had forgotten that I was pregnant last year and wore the same four pairs of capris all summer long. I had no choice today but to rock the denim ones. Rock is being way, way, way kind and stupid. I actually felt like a pregnant hobo. They were falling off of me. Saggy. Baggy ass. Rolling down. I was pulling, clutching, rolling, folding and tugging constantly. SO annoying. But I trudged on. I brought Scarlett to my mom's house for a visit and decided to run some errands before lunch. One of the errands would clearly be to find pants with a very specific waist and hopefully belt loops.

My first stop was CVS - because I practically live there. Next up was Lowe's, to bite the bullet and just go through with the "ordering of the carpet installation". So that's done and I got a great deal on the financing - 0% for 18 months... and yesterday was the last day for it. I finally snuck in before the bell rang! So, now we are just awaiting the phone call from the installer to set up our official 'carpeting of the stairs and hallway' appointment. Thank God. Those stairs are atrocious. I have hated that nasty, gray carpet since we bought the house. And then Brody made it far worse by chewing holes in it when we left him alone as a new pup. It's hideous and embarrassing. And soon to be all better.

My last errand was a Target run. I wanted new denim capris and a new cheapo, bright colored bag. Mission accomplished. And the bag is exactly what I was looking for...

{source}

I had no choice but to change into my new jeans upon re-entering my mother's house. Sorry, old maternity friend, you'll be packed away with the rest in case of a future summer pregnancy. I've read about people wearing their maternity clothes for months or YEARS after having a baby. How?? HOW?? I ask. Well, actually I do have a couple of shirts that I still wear because you can't tell ... or can you? Ask me if I care. 

Baby girl had a lot of fun rolling around in Grammie's new three season room - since there is no furniture in it yet. She was making my grandmother laugh so hard acting like a little big shot. She's very fun these days and she's been sitting up playing for such long periods of time. Such a big girl!

That was the bulk of the day.  The rest included: a ride back home, a beautiful cross-breeze, bills, mail, dinner, playing with S, bath-time, sleepy-time, humidifier fill-ups, dog bones, frozen yogurt and The King of Queens.

Hope you all enjoyed your Monday - no matter how your pants fit.