When Summer Used to Be Scheduled

There was a time when my entire summer revolved around high school volleyball practice and the school calendar. My life was basically:

• Wake up

• Take my daughter to practice

• Work

• Pick up my daughter from practice

• Sleep

• Repeat

Now? My summers have taken a decidedly more… unstructured turn.

And by unstructured, I mean: retirement parties, concerts, slumber parties, and pickle festivals....anything goes. Because apparently this is who I am now.

A Retirement Party to Kick Things Off

The week started with yet another friend/co‑worker retiring. Another one. Another person riding off into the sunset while I’m still over here clocking in like a responsible citizen.

Good for them. I’m fine. Totally fine.

Anyway.

Then Came the Concert + Slumber Party Combo

I did something I haven’t done in ages: I went to a concert and then had an old‑school slumber party.

Front row at a Sister Hazel concert with one old girlfriend and two new ones. We sang. We danced. We pretended we were still in our twenties. It was glorious.

Then we walked across the street to a friend’s loft—this funky, fabulous space—and proceeded to have a slumber party stocked with more snacks than any grown woman should admit to consuming.

We stayed up way too late. We laughed until our faces hurt. We talked about everything and nothing. And suddenly I was 12 again, except with better pajamas and fewer braces.

Honestly? If you haven’t had a slumber party in a while, you might want to fix that.

The Pickle Festival (Yes… Pickles.)

The next day, the S.O. and I scooted over the mountain to meet my daughter and some friends at the pickle festival.

Let me be clear: I do not like pickles. Not fried. Not chilled. Not on a stick. Not in a drink. Not in a jar. Not in a house. Not with a mouse.

But my daughter loves them. My S.O. loves them. And I love festivals.

So off we went.

Pickles were everywhere:

• Pickles on sticks

• Pickle‑infused drinks

• Pickle merch

• Pickle tattoos (temporary, but still)

The music was loud, the sun was bright, and the vibe was pure summer silliness. And honestly? It was a blast.

So What’s the Point of All This?

Whether you’re heading to the beach, the lake, the mountains, or just staying local… Summer fun is what you make of it.

The first week or two of mine has already been full of:

• nostalgia

• laughter

• late nights

• festivals

• friends

• and a whole lot of “why not?” energy

And I hope—truly—that you get out there and make your own version of it.

Because summer isn’t just a season. It’s a mood. A mindset. A permission slip to enjoy your life a little louder.

Here’s to a great one, my friend.