First Day of Summer

Today is the first day of summer. I had planned on spending the afternoon on the beach relaxing. Of course that didn’t happen. The key to my car was MIA. So instead of pulling out my beach chair after babysitting this morning, I pulled out my phone. My father came and picked me up like I was 15 again.

Back then the summers were easy. Each day I knew exactly what was happening and drifted through the motions. I didn’t pay much attention to how much I spent each week, or the weather. I knew I’d be up early in the morning, get on the bus for camp, spend endless hours there, return home for dinner, and hang out with friends until the moon crested. They were simple. The school year and winter were so very far away.

On the car ride home, my father told me that he and my mother decided I was to go to the dealership two towns away and purchase extra car keys. He expected a spare to be on his key ring by dinner. (Yes, I am 27 and not living home, and my parents made my itinerary for the day.) Fortunately he lent me his car and suggested I take the scenic route because downtown was all torn up.

I make a quick run to the bank to cash my babysitting check and dash to the dealership. I took the scenic route as my father recommended and cruised right along. Right along until I came to the bright orange signs in the distant. All I could do was chuckle.

The road was closed up ahead and the detour routed through a bit of Mystic. On the detour I also passed other “Bridge / Road Closed” signs and detours. So much for avoiding these!