Summer Memories
I lay here listening to the booms of fireworks. My nieces are not fans of the loud sporadic noise. In the house at the lake, I sleep on a couch and usually have children laying on make-shift beds throughout the living room. Other adults are in bedrooms. I have always felt joy of family time and having the littles all tucked in around me regardless of the couch not being a bed.
Tonight is different. The house has four of us in it. My mom, my nieces and I. My dad is gone, my big sister is gone, my uncle is in long-term care after his stroke, my cousins are living their own lives, and my little sister is creating memories with her family.
I am sad to have so many memories of a house with so many people it felt we were stepping on each other. It was like that since my grandparents bought it. People in tents on the lawn, pullout couches, and sharing beds. I now lay on a couch and the room is empty. I bought food for at least 8 with enough for some leftovers so needless to say the only thing overflowing is the fridge.
I have many different memories and even memories of stories told regarding summers my relatives or I have had. I figured it was better to tell them so others can know them. I am watching my family disappear and the memories should not be forgotten. As long as I am here, I will be the keeper of the memories. I am a planner so I like to have backup so they will live here, too.
My Great-Uncle Charlie, he is so close in age to my dad that it always felt to me they were more like brothers not uncle/nephew. Uncle Charlie and Dad always reminiscing about summers in Shady Valley (my dad's father's side lived). The both have stories about hanging out with the Longs on their farm. Bailing hay, causing mischief, and being boys. So many stories and always told with such fondness.
Photo - Leo (my Great-Grandpa/Billie & Charlie's dad), Billie (my Grammy/my dad's mom), James (my dad on swing), Charlie (my Great-Uncle on teeter totter) in Shady Valley
Auntie Marilyn (my mom's aunt) had a real hatred for weeding the garden. She said she would do any chores in the house just to not have to weed the garden. She also disliked the time between just prior to the garden being ripe enough to harvest. She said that is when prior years canning supply would get to its lowest. This meant her mother would get creative. They ate pasties often in the U.P. with a dough recipe passed down generations. Instead of traditional beef and potato, my Aunt was given egg pasties with whatever vegetable as filler her mother decided. My Auntie Marilyn disliked time time in the summers the most. I can't blame her we were raised that the pastie is to be respected the Hooper's do it one way and one way only. Family dough recipe, flank steak, potatoes, rutabaga (if you have it), a sprinkle of diced onion, a pat of butter, a dash of salt and pepper. Eggs not required that must have been a Rhen thing.
Uncle Tom (my mom's uncle) used to tell a story that his sister, Auntie Marilyn, sabotaged planting the garden by placing the plants (onions, I think) upside down so the roots pointed up. This caused him to have to go back and correct them all. Based on Auntie Marilyn's hatred of the garden this is definitely believable. It made Uncle Tom very bitter to recall because for any Hooper efficiency is key.
Photo - Me (in toddler jail on Ormond Beach, FL)
Florida - Keep in mind, I left there when I was about 4 years old. It was always so incredibly hot and my best friend was the boy next door. He wore his Osh-Kosh overalls with no shirt. I can do anything boys can do. I remember running out of the house with my overalls on with no shirt, too. As an adult, when I am hot/ overheated I joke that one can only get so naked. Well, coming from a shirtless overall wearing three year old it is oh so true.
Indiana - We were there for only a year but I do remember when the grandparents next door watched their granddaughter I would go over and play with her. Their house I recall was like a shrine, plastic covered couch, nothing out of place and very proper.
Photo - Christy, Tricia and I in NC in our backyard wearing our Wilson Water Warriors gear (known today as the Wilson Barracudas)
North Carolina - We lived at the end of the cul-de-sac. We spent summers running through each through backyards to get from house to the other. We had a pool and had those big rings to swim through, and diving sticks. I spent so many hours underwater living my dreams of being born with gills. Summer nights, I would stare at the stars wondering if life was like the movie An American Tail. (I absolutely loved Fievel). My hope was someone was out there thinking of me looking at the same sky. I remember the swim dome would come down and we would have swim practice outdoors. After practice we would get to jump off the super high dive. The key was to stay straight if you leaned at all you would either belly or back smack which would take your breath away. Other summer activities included bike rides and climbing trees in the woods. Kids everywhere and fun was had always.
Photo - My new wheels which had a hand break and peddle breaks one step closer to a mountain bike.
Missouri - I attended a legit Year-Round school. This meant 9 weeks of school followed by 3 weeks off. Therefore, summer was 3 weeks for me. My whole neighborhood was off during the same time so that meant bike rides with friends and hanging out at the creek. There was also lot of time in the house with my sisters while our parents were away. Mom would give me book reports to work on but I couldn't keep my focus on reading (my love for reading didn't happen until I was a freshman in college). I spent a lot of time on Nintendo, watching/rewatching movies on VHS, and listening to music. Summer swim team kept me busy but it was nothing compared to year round US sanctioned swimming in North Carolina. I did get many metals and won first place in the county meet for multiple events on the summer team. Being a Laurel Park Dolphin was where my loyalty was even when other teams wanted to recruit me.
Photo - Summer swim meet for Laurel Park Dolphins.
Michigan - Summer means the lake. Grandma and Grandpa Hooper driving the full size van. The original place was a single wide. Sleeping in the van meant you were lucky. Sleeping on the pull out couch meant you were unlucky (that thing attacked trying to lay down or get up). So thankful that with the new place came a new couch though not a pullout it is still my go to sleep space. We were not allowed inside when it was daylight. Hours at the beach, jumping off the raft, avoiding the muck, chasing away the minnows and fish. Paddle boat to and from Pat and Rita's place, the sandbar and the beach. We were once stranded on opposite side of lake on windy day unable to paddle fast enough to overcome wind. Eating meals on the picnic table, the silver tray used to carry stuff from house, and the grill smelling up the whole lot. Bonfires, smores, and hobo pies. Sparklers, trying to avoid smoke seat, and listening to the neighbors across the channel always being rowdy. Coolers were always full, pontoon rides at a slow crawl around lake, and the speed boat was fast for tubing. Going out before noon and not coming back in until dinner time. Sunburns and wind snarled hair. Tubing in the boat's wake, whipping outside the wake, and flying through the air on fast turns wiping out. Dropping anchor and swimming for hours. Remind No Wake Zone through the bouys. Sandbar status it is underwater, above water, almost non-existent, or islands in the middle of the lake these were all evidence of the prior winter snow and spring rain. The Jetski making your own waves, cruising with your own control, and others being out until the gas tank runs dry. Rainy days with Skip-bo, Walker Texas Ranger, First Edition, and Doctor Quinn Medicine Woman. Bring swim gear, light weight summer clothes since it is hot and humid but dont forget your sweatshirt and pants because it is cold in the mornings.
Working at Showcase meant no more lake time because I had to work. Sweater vest, tie, dress shirt, and polyester meant heat stroke every shift. Four free passes a week meant many days off from work I went to work for fun. Group trips to Cedar Point and canoeing. Bookworm Wednesdays taking my younger cousins to a movie, Little Ceasars dine-in, and bowling to give them fun memories. Playing video games like Pokémon Minigames, Mario Party, and Harvest Moon with my sister and cousins so they got quality time when I wasn't at work or taking summer courses.
Summer is a time for family and fun. Relaxing and enjoying nature. Much of my time in the summer was near water. Many moments I cherish. I think about my actions effecting others. I do my best to bring positive moments that van be remembered positively. I am not perfect and my own high standards for myself can vause frustration. I hope I can pass down some joy to the next generation.
Right now the lake water level is low, the air conditioning went out, and the pontoon hasn't been in for about four years. I know change happens whether we want it to or not. I am missing the chaos and feel as though this emptiness is the new normal. It is sad to have a house that slept as many as 16 now has 4.
I just hope the kids can make a list similar to mine of all their memories.
Amaysing Thoughts
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