Reflecting on My Summer Break

When you were going to school, did your teacher ever ask you, on the first day of school in September, to write about what you did last summer? And did you moan and groan about it since, like all kids, what was done was done, and all you wanted was to get on with things?

Well, that’s how I feel, now that my ‘summer vacation’ is over, and I should be getting back to my ‘real life’! I have been blogging for almost five years, and every Sunday morning, I’d post a story or an anecdote about my life, and then wait for your responses throughout the week. It was wonderful to hear from you. You became part of my life. But I took the summer off, and one month became two, and then, before I realized it, twelve weeks had gone by. I didn’t forget you though, and you didn’t forget me—I checked my blog regularly throughout the summer, and discovered that many of you were still dropping by to read my previous entries. Thank you for that.

If you are wondering, at this point, why I attached the picture of the hotel, with its amazing reflection in the water, well, the reflection is actually the story, since I did a lot of reflecting while I was away! Between major celebrations, Bob’s big birthday bash, my birthday celebration and various family activities, I walked the Songhees walkway, and reflected on my life, the things that have happened, and the things that most likely were in store for me.

It was all a revelation, since I have rarely taken the time to do this! I discovered that my family, Bob, his children, my own two grown children, my grandson, my sisters and brother, and my nieces and nephews—all rated highest in my life. Of course, as I grow older, I need them more than they need me—and that, I accept, is how it should be.

Other personal relationships are important too. I have friends who go back many years, and correspondence with them goes back and forth, much to my delight. I include you in this category, my online blogging and social media friends. It took a few weeks off to realize how much I value your readership and comments—and how much I miss you when I am not participating.

Then, because nothing is possible without it, my health, exercise, supplements, taking my blood pressure, and so on, comes next. Although I am in very good health, this part of my day seems to take longer than ever.

Very close to my heart right now, and something that gets me up in the morning, is writing. I am working (sporadically) on a novel, various articles, and this blog. Sometimes I am awash with regret that it took me so many decades to realize this, but now that I am here, writing every day, I am very grateful that I have the time, and the skills to do this, and I want it to last far into the future.

I do want to add, since it will become evident to you soon, that I am making some changes to this blog. Since I acquired an iphone this summer, I could see that my blog is hard to read on the phone, so I will be making some adjustments to the format. I also want to change the times my articles appear in your inbox. I won’t be posting every Sunday, as before, but will try for two or three postings a month—that works best for me, and I hope it will work out for you as well.

Once again, thank you for following. I look forward to more posting—but not more reflecting, I’m done with that for now!

Note: The picture of the Laurel Point Hotel, across the harbor from my home, was taken by me, with my new phone, one foggy morning last week