School’s Out: Weeks 2 and 3

Temperatures north of the “D” have been hovering between 90 and 100 for nearly two weeks. So, most outdoor activities involve water. My kiddos have been dodging sprinklers, hot-dogging in the kiddie pool next door and taking swim lessons. Plus, both Issa and Riff have tutors they see one time each week. I do not want them to lose skills during the summer months.

At the conclusion of last week, my husband, Tracy, returned home from a five-month project in Dayton, OH. He works for GM and has been out of town, M-F plus some weekends since the end of February. When he arrived home last Friday, he unloaded an impressive arsenal of fireworks for the Fourth of July holiday.

Last night, Tracy and several of our neighbors lit the sky with beautiful colors to commemorate our nation’s birthday. We are all so very fortunate to live in a community where neighbors get along with each other. There were a lot of moments I thought of what others — living elsewhere on this planet — have to endure on a daily basis.

The remainder of Week 3 has yet to unfold.

Advertisement

No Place Like Home on July 4

There is no other place more alive and beautiful than my own home on July 4. Each year our patio provides an excellent location for viewing all the flashes of red, blue, yellow, purple, silver and green. This year was no different. Spectacular displays from our house as well as from neighbors celebrated patriotism and love for this country.

Sounds are of excited, innocent children — including my own — laughing and shouting in the last glimmers of sunlight. As the sunset, the jack rabbits, mandarin ducks, fountains, snakes and witch’s whistles started opened the show. Then, the noise became deafening but harmonious all at the same time with the more powerful rockets and bombs. Beautiful showers and sparkles lit the sky until 2 am.