Making memories
By Staff
Melissa Cason
The other day I woke up at 6 a.m. and I was troubled as to what I should do.
The grown up, responsible portion of my personality said I should get up and get ready for work since it was only Wednesday and I had a lot to get done during the day.
But, the kid in me decided to sleep a little bit longer.
I was wishing that I could sleep until I decided to wake up and then go do some fun stuff. I basically stayed in bed another 30 minutes and got up to face my day filled with grown up responsibility.
As I was getting dressed, I started thinking about the summers of my childhood, and how I got to sleep in every day and my only real concern was getting my chores done before my mom got home.
I remember playing outside all day long and coming in for Kool-Aid in the afternoons. I remember riding four-wheelers with my cousins and riding bikes with my brother.
I remember disappearing for hours in the woods playing and nobody sending a search party except for that one time we didn't make it in before dark. I remember the spankings we got for not following directions that day.
I remember having fun. I remember laughing out loud at stupid stuff and I remember eating watermelon and ice cream after supper.
I remember going to the lake on weekends, and swimming until the sun blistered us.
On rainy days, we'd play war in our room or watch TV.
When I think of all these memories, I can't help but smile. Sometimes I am sad for my kids because they don't have memories like that. I grew up in what seems to be another world. I would never feel comfortable with my kids going and playing in the woods all day.
I feel like my kids will never get to experience the things I did as a kid. The simple things.
Instead, they will have memories of multiple trips to Disney World, Sea World, Six Flags and going to the beach. They will remember going to a summer program instead of staying home and sleeping in. They will remember swimming in our own backyard swimming pool and grilling out with the family.
I am not saying the memories they will have are bad. They will be different from what I remember. Probably different from what many of you remember.
This week my family will be making more summertime memories together as we venture out on our yearly vacation. When the boys were smaller, we would take vacation in the spring, but school and work schedules dictate that we begin taking our family vacations in the summer joining millions of families across the nation.
So this week, I won't be thinking of who was arrested and what feature story I can find. I'll be relaxing in the sun and thinking how great it is to be away from the responsibilities of family, work and everyday life.
Hopefully, I'll return to work with a sun kissed glow and rejuvenated attitude.
You can bet when I get back I'll be ready to take on any challenge and new memories made while I was away.
