Where are you? Where have you been?

Where are you? Where have you been? You O.K.? The answer to this and many other questions is... 


I am here.  It's been a busy June. As you can tell by the lack of posting. Just a note about what is to come; posts. Bike riding- trips to KC- Train rides. But first let's just talk about Summer.


June is the first month of Summer. I know that it doesn't officially begin until June 21, but every since I was a kid in school June was the beginning of Summer. June, July, and August. Three months of freedom. 


Growing up my parents worked. So from a young age my brother and I were alone in the Summer. Not totally alone, my parents weren't neglecting us or anything. While we were young they would get someone to sit with us during the day, when they were at work. I remember for a few years it was Cindy Ashcraft. We rode our bikes to Woodside Racquet Club for swimming lessons. One of the summers when we rode to lessons they were widening Midland BLVD, in Nampa. I think it was in 1984, or so. If you were in Nampa then, you might remember it. It was a nightmare to drive/ride through- people even had bumper stickers that read "Pray for Me- I drive Midland BLVD". It was a pretty big project, they went from two lane, to the wide three lane road that it is today.


When we were a little older we were able take care of ourselves. They would take our baby brother to a sitter while they worked and then we stayed home. Our parents would leave us chore lists that we were expected to finish by the time the returned or we would lose privileges. Our list might include weeding rows in the garden, picking beans or snapping beans. We also might have to clean certain rooms in the house- so that mom & dad did not have to later. So we did our work and then played.  


One summer I remember that we spent a lot of time with Ryan and Josh Wilhelmsen. This is the summer that we learned about warming up hot dogs in the microwave and then eating them with BBQ sauce. They lived just up the street so it was easy to run up and play for a little while and then be home for mom & dad. 


Summer was fun. I guess that's why working all the time makes me long for the days when choosing where to ride my bike to was a major decision.