Summertime

As a kid I couldn't wait for spring break to come. Then, we used to call it just taking a week off of school - and dreading the coming back to finish out the year. But when "Spring Break" came around, we were going to enjoy it to the fullest.

When we wanted to go anywhere, we had to find a replacement for work, and that was hard. Dad always said we had to finish before we left. None of our friends wanted to help because they had to finish their jobs before they left.

When I had the chance, I'd take my girl and go to the skating rink on East Market Street in York. That was the hot hang out. Even if you couldn't skate, you were still cool if you hung out at the rink. Every Saturday night we would get a group of friends and go to the movies and pay only 50 cents to see it. One year I saved up my allowance, and go to go to Williams Grove Fair. I wanted to go on the roller coaster they had. I went alone, and it had one too many loops. I didn't know what to expect when I got on, and I don't want to know again after that. It was a day I will never forget.

Summer wasn't just about the school year ending. It was also about vacations. Then again, when you live on a farm it's always work, work, work... then the vacations. One year my family went to Alaska. We got to tour almost the whole state. The best part about the tour was when we got to see the ice break off the peak of a mountain. When it slid down into the water, it make the biggest sound. It indescribable. It's something that had to be seen and heard for oneself.

One year I took a trip to Hawaii. It's one of the most beautiful, laid back, relaxing vacations that I took. We flew from Dallas, Texas airport - and got to Hawaii in about 3-4 hours (or so it seemed). Did you ever hear the saying, 'It takes longer to get there than it does to return home'? Well, that's how it felt. I liked everything there: the palm trees, the huts, the dancing, the ocean, the sand, and especially the volcano. That was one of the most relaxing vacations I ever had. My wife and I would go back over and over again if we could.

I'll never forget the Red Lion Carnival. My wife and I walked around it, hand in hand, for hours. Even though we've been there before, we still enjoyed going - and it gave me a chance to show off my beard.

As a kid we didn't do many family vacations. We were always too busy. When I lived out in Indiana, my family took a couple of days to get to the County Farm Show. We had seen every farm animal possible: cows, horses, sheep, hogs, and many more. That was kinda our getaway. One year I do recall going to the mountains with my family. We rented a place for the week. I don't remember much about it, but I do remember seeing a lot of deer and roasting marshmallows around the campfire. During the day, after chores were done - I would walk the line of the edge of the woods, have a picnic, or even go swimming. I'd lie on a blanket underneath the tree and enjoy the rest of the day. Then, later, when the sun started setting behind the trees - I knew it would soon be time to make ice cream. I packed up my things and headed back to the farm.

Every summer would be the same to my family, but not to me. It would be an adventure to explore. Now I realize, as I look back - that my parents were right. I did do the same thing every summer. I just never seemed that way. Summer was just fun.