After a day of fun, we would settle down in the twilight and catch fireflies and make them into diamond rings <we would eventually let them go of course>. Someone would inevitably crank out some homemade ice cream: black raspberry was my absolute favorite! Kids actually asked to help with the cranking because they thought it was fun.
We didn’t have cell phones or computers or video games to distract us. We relied on our imaginations to eliminate boredom. We would play board and card games endlessly. We would ride bikes for miles looking for adventure. I would go to the library frequently and read a book a day on average because there was a summer reading contest every year and I was determined to win.
We would take our two-week vacation to Cape Cod in August every year. I loved it: Skaket Beach for the tide pools and eddys and Nauset Beach for the crashing waves and sand dunes. We enjoyed band concerts in Chatham at night and white elephant sales during the day. To this day I love evening concerts under the stars. We gathered wild berries, ate hermit cookies from the bakery, and creamy clam chowder. We caught fish and crabs and cooked them in lemon and butter, with watermelon for dessert. Life was good.
What brings back summer memories of childhood for you?