Summer, Summer, Summertime...

“Summer, summer, summertime…time to sit back and unwind…school is out and its sort of a buzz…back then I didn’t really know what it was.”

Will Smith had it so right in the lyrics of his song from 1991. Remember that last bell of the school year when you were a kid? That initial feeling of freedom as you ran out of your last class to a season of fun? For the first time since I was 15, I’m reliving that experience, and it’s so good.

I have been teaching for nine years, but before this year, I was on a 12-month contract with another school district. In the summers, my duties varied. I often worked for the district administration doing public relations work. I created publications, coordinated events, spoke at conferences, escorted students on major field trips and competitions, created video projects, and lots of other stuff often making the summer seem busier than the school year. Sometimes working for adults in the summer was more stressful than working with teenagers during the regular year.

One of the attractions of my new job was a little something I had enviously heard other teachers talk about – summer break. Nine weeks of no work, no students, no real schedule. It’s almost like I’ve worked my whole life to have this moment. As a kid starting at age 15, my summer jobs included: a paper route, fry guy and cashier at McDonald’s, bagging groceries, and working at a coastal amusement park we called “kiddie hell.” Toss in our military family’s tradition of moving, and summers have been a hectic time.

As my friends have discovered my good fortune this summer, the question kept arising: “What are you going to do?” My answer, “Nothing.” I’ve turned down multiple opportunities for part-time and freelance jobs. I even avoided my usual summer habit of taking some major, high-activity-oriented, overseas trip, something I used to do with the one or two weeks of vacation I would earn. Since 2000, I have been on an overseas every year until this one.

As the hour drew closer to freedom this June, I realized I needed some sort of plan. As a big list maker, I thought that was one way I could have a fun-filled summer without being too stagnant or bored. I made a list of desired activities and a list of work-related things I should probably take care of, but could easily be put off until the return to work. Number one on the list of desire: Relax! After a new year at a new school, in a new place with 180 degrees of change in my life, the need to relax is top priority. Then, fun stuff like kayaking, surfing, camping, working out, a road trip up to my birthplace in Monterey, Disneyland for free on my birthday, lunches and hang time with friends.

So far, so good. Two weeks in, and I am the most relaxed I’ve been in my life. I feel like this is how teachers are able to be in the classroom 20-30 years. The first day off, I set the tone: gym, massage, hot tub, reading at the beach. Much of that has already been repeated, enjoyed again, and will be through out the summer. Unfortunately, I’ve lost the ability to sleep until 10, 11, 12, or later like I could as a teenager. I still usually wake up around 6:30 or 7:00, but there’s no rush to get up, and I can lounge around until whenever I want. Of course, few people in my life have this opportunity. They are either working or at school, while I experience Summer 2009. I’m trying not to be that friend that encourages bad behavior, like “Come on take the day off and hang out at the beach with me.” I’m not saying it won’t happen, but I am trying to avoid it.

One of my favorite authors growing up was syndicated columnist, Bob Greene. He wrote a novel once called “All Summer Long.” It was a story about three childhood friends, who took a cross-country road trip together as adults. Together they re-discover the importance of relaxation, friendship, and self-discovery. That’s my goal for this summer. There has already been lots of time to stop and spend time with God, think about my life, and pray. That’s pretty awesome.

The photo above this blog post is of me under a waterfall in East San Diego County. My first full weekend of summer break, I went on a hike to this amazing location with friends. Let the good times continue.

“And think of the summers of the past
Adjust the base and let the alpine blast
Pop in my cd and let me run a rhyme
And put your car on cruise and lay back cause this is summertime”