Summer break is a mere 6 weeks away. An obvious perk of the teacher schedule.

Needless to say, I am eagerly anticipating it.

But more so than the break, what I appreciate about summer is that it provides a framework for the school year, an end goal to work towards. Summer break offers a chance for some reflection, space to catch your breath, reassess, and set new goals, both personally and professionally for the new year. And each September ushers in just that–a new year. A turnover of kids, a re-setting of programs with a twist to accommodate different personalities, increased maturity, and a whole host of new opportunities (and challenges).

I have been thinking a good bit about what I want to do with my summer. My husband and most of my friends work through the summer and we don’t have any kids so it leaves me with quite a chunk of free time. To be honest, that time is both exciting and a bit daunting. I have learned that without a set schedule I get bored quickly. And once I get bored, basically my entire well being starts sliding. I have a hard time pulling myself out of it.

It’s a weird little slippery slope.

I know most people do not complain about or fear abundant free time, but I have learned it’s not good for me in large doses.

So in shaping my summer I have been thinking about what I want to learn and what I want to experience. I will perhaps work a little in some capacity, I will take a few trips, hopefully spend some time with family and soak up our London/Paris jaunt, but what about the rest of the time?

I don’t want my days to just pass by. I want them to be meaningful, full of life–memorable even.

So I have been working on those two categories: what I want to learn and what I want to experience.

I find myself constantly thinking I wish I knew more about that so I am going to set aside a couple hours every morning to just actively learn. We live literally across the street from the library (a true simple pleasure) so I have the perfect little perch in which to make that happen. I’ve been keeping a running list of topics. I’ll have to prioritize for sure–the more you learn, the more you realize how little you know. Ain’t that the truth!

As for part two–what I want to experience–this falls into two (somewhat overlapping) categories. First, I just want to experience the place that I live, the local flavor. I want to be more aware of what’s happening in our area–the festivals, concerts, road races, celebrations–and I want to capitalize on them. I know I harp on it often, but I LOVE where I live. The parks, the ocean, the city, the walking trails, the hidden beaches, the abundant graveyards–all of it. I just love it here, but I never seem to take full advantage of all that is happening (often free of charge!) around me. Largely just because I’m not aware of it. But not this summer! I am on the hunt for local happenings!

Category two of summer experiences is simply to welcome adventure and spontaneity. Basically I just want to say YES more freely and more often without thinking so much about the cost or the inconvenience or the feasibility. I am such a logical person that I often fear I miss out on interesting opportunities, on being part of great stories, because I see the potential headaches. While this has surely saved me some frustration and real headaches, it has also inhibited me from actively living out great stories. Great stories, which inevitably are made even greater by the headaches along the way.

My even more logical, anti-spontaneity husband is probably cringing right now thinking of what I will drag him along to, but don’t worry Jerome–I promise you’ll love it. Even if just in hindsight.

(you are such a trooper.)

“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment. Fools stand on their island of opportunities and look toward another land. There is no other land; there is no other life but this.”
-Henry David Thoreau

Sometimes I think about moving. Who knows what opportunities could arise or where we could find ourselves in a year’s time. Life is quite unpredictable, to be sure.

When my head gets swirling with all of the infinite options, I think of the exciting elements that different areas of our country have to offer, but mostly I just think of all the things I would so greatly miss about this little sliver of earth, our little sliver.

I just LOVE where I live.

I could go on for pages about what I love in each season here in the northeast (except winter of course…that’s generally just terrible)–beach bumming summers, farm-infused falls, and springs ripe with berry-picking–but what I really love is the yearlong constants.

I love being ten minutes from our alma mater, half an hour from Boston, a stone’s throw from the public library, right down the street from our favorite pizza place, less than a mile from THE BEST park, and within a ten block radius of so many of our best friends. I love yearlong ice cream from fresh creameries, historic houses ripe with character, and access to the city and the beach essentially anytime we want it.

I am feeling particularly appreciative of this place today. Sunny days in April have that effect, I think.

As much as other places may offer new adventures, I hope our story sticks here for a while.

But who really ever knows.

A few life happenings ’round here. Well, first off–life sure is happening and it is happening fast.  I have promised myself multiple times that I won’t be one of those people always talking about how I can’t believe it’s already April or already 2012 or already my child’s 8th birthday, etc. Life happens and as the years pile on, they only come faster. We all know it so I won’t dwell on it.

But as a reminder that time is flying–Jerry’s best friend from high school AND best friend from college both just announced that they are expecting their first child…BOTH due in September! We are beyond thrilled for both of them (and their wives, of course).

Anyhow…some quick life updates…

Jerry has been a busy little beaver at work these days. Pretty much every Monday as I am getting ready for work I tell him that I have job envy. He has a pleasant little 8 minute commute down back roads, he works on a beautiful campus with bustling college students and highly quality character-rich people, and generally his hours are pretty predictable. Well, he has been preparing for the college’s 10-year reaccreditation visit which is happening this upcoming week so he’s been putting in some loooooong hours both at work and at home. So this Monday as I am enjoying a lovely April vacation morning, I certainly won’t be experiencing that usual envy.

Despite my Monday envy, I really still love my job. It has been a MUCH more challenging transition from my last school to my new school than I anticipated (I am currently covering my second longterm maternity leave position as an elementary school counselor), but I am so thankful to remain in the same district and to get to work with funny little kids. I think I just underestimated how attached I had become to the kids (and staff!) in my last school.

We received a surprise package the other day (pictured above). My brother sent us a whole case of Topo Chico, the Mexican mineral water sweeping my hometown. To say I am savoring them would be an understatement. Thanks Bry!

Jerry FINALLY made it down to Peet’s coffee! Despite drinking this stuff every morning, he had never been to the actual coffee shop in Cambridge. It legitimately was on his goals list for 2012…crossed that one off last weekend. And we got some Pinkberry while we were at it because it’s just that ridiculously good.

Speaking of goals, we booked our tickets to London for the summer! I am going to start planning itineraries today.

Happy Sunday to you all…and to those in the northeast, it’s a GORGEOUS one!!

It’s an “attitude of gratitude” kind of day.

Today I am grateful for…

Books/Bibles, coffee, and a comfy bed on a Sunday morning.

Plus this guy (and his beard).

All sweet, helpful, easy-going and consistent, setting an example of selflessness for me every day.
Truly a better person.

RASPBERRIES!

These guys are making a strong push for my favorite fruit, but I just don’t think they can surpass the mango anytime soon. I DEVOUR mango–fresh, frozen, blended, and dried. But I do love raspberries and I am chomping at the bit for “pick your own berries” season.

The two years we spent in Williamsburg doing the grad school thing and being newlyweds.

While I am SO thankful to be back in Massachusetts, I think fondly of this time and the foundation it created for our marriage.

Ummm, our UNBELIEVABLE weather the past week, providing me the opportunity to give a little shout out to my Texan roots wearing dresses with no leggings or hose in March! Seriously, this past week has been crazy beautiful up here. Super surreal 70-80 degree days, blasting sunshine, peaceful and salty sea breeze.

Completely insane March weather.

A relaxing stroll around Newburyport with this gal whom I just adore!

Very authentic, easy-going, and just fun–a nice mix for me!

My dad coming for a little visit!

I very rarely see my dad these days considering he lives in Texas and we only make it down there about once a year. I was thinking the other day that I probably see him about 6 days out of the 365 in the year. So it was nice to tack on a couple extra this year. We enjoyed the weather on a sunny walk, had a nice dinner, and played a little racquetball/crafted a work-out together.

Speedball.

Oh my do I ever love speedball. I actually love pretty much any kind of team sport. I would play sports every day if I could find people to play with me…it’s honestly my favorite thing to do. So speedball is this combo soccer and ultimate frisbee game that we play pretty much every week in the summer and fall. With our unprecedented weather this past week though, we had our inaugural game. We set up cones and play on this delightful field. So many good memories here.

What a week!