Ode to Summer

Dear Summer,

Hey there! I’m sorry to see you go. You were super dope to me this year. This has been a summer season to remember. As you fade to black and Fall steps up into your beloved position, I sit back and reflect on the awesomeness that was you, Summer 2018.

Camp IDEA blessed me, yet again, with an amazing group of quirky kids that love to learn. I taught classes ranging from the Art of Nerf Wars, to Hunger Games, to learning about master artists from around the globe. I was able to reinvigorate my love of teaching as well as co-create with some exceptional educations! The Camp IDEA Fam always fuels my love of educating young people.

One of my most favoritest (I know, def not a real word) moments was scoring last minute tix to see Queen Bey and Jay Z for OTRII. The show was fan-freaking-tastic! I sang. I danced. And I got to fangirl all the way out! I still watch videos from the show on my phone…and I indulge in new vids that pop up on my IG feed (because someone I follow has just gone to the show). The costumes and the visual effects were stunning! I loved every second of it. [Bey, if you come across this little blog post, bless us with a digital release of this tour to relive over and over again.]

Then August swept in, and it was a whirlwind from that point forward. Kyle and I took our boys on a vacation of a lifetime, complete with guest appearances from their grandparents, uncle, and the entire Disney crew. Our stay at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge was magical. We woke up each morning and went out on the balcony to check out what animals were roaming by. We ventured to Disney Hollywood Studios and did all things Star Wars, including slaying the Dark Side as our boys became official members of the Jedi Order. We snapped pics with Mickey and the gang and made memories that we can happily look back on for years to come. (Now to organize the pictures and make a kickass photobook…)

And finally, there was the trip that had me anxious the instant I booked it…a destination wedding to the Bahamas. I had a traumatizing experience the last time I visited the island (15 years ago), and I vowed that I’d never go back! Ever! My rationale was that there are tons of other places on this planet to visit. Why go back to a place where I got violently ill and had to go to the hospital? But when my little cousin and her future husband announced their wedding would be in the Bahamas, I had to face my terror head on.

I’m glad that I did. I had an amazing time with my family! I especially enjoyed the time reconnecting with my sis and my cousins. Now, that fun came at the expense of eating a very strict diet and keeping my drinking to a minimum, but I left having made some new memories that helped to overpower the negative ones from the past.