What I Learned This Summer

We were busy this summer.  Here are a few of the things we did:

We went to a couple summer camps and had a few camp-like days at home—including Stalactite Experiment week (inspired by this awesome magazine called Alphabet Glue), Insect Experiment week, featuring ladybugs and pill bugs (and the gorgeous and rare albino praying mantis below), and Flower Experiment week, which just included lots of coloring. 

I taught a belly dance class and managed to wait precisely four days after the last class to break my pinkie toe.  And then I began class again in the fall just five weeks later, giving it just enough time to heal.  I learned what it feels like to break a bone—my first.  Like many things in life, it was painful, and then annoying, but I managed just fine and life went on as usual.  Which, I might add, is different then the morbidly popular ‘What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.’  Whatever it is could, however, leave you mangled, paralyzed or disfigured beyond recognition—let’s not go looking for pain in search of strength or toughness, okay people?  Pain will come to you as part of life—learn to cope and then move along with grace.
Anyhow, enough of the toe, and philosophies on pain.

I applied for yet another blogging job to add to these two and failed to get it due to technical issues that had nothing to do with my wit, charm, abilities or experience.  So fear not, we still have both feet firmly rooted in both poverty and obscurity and these blog posts will keep on coming.
We learned that it is better to use a hair clip than scissors to rid ourselves of that pesky lock of hair.  We learned to walk, and we learned that just because we’re not walking doesn’t mean we have hip dysplasia  (thank God!).
We grew a few things on our balcony garden, learned to love nasturtiums and hate aphids (ladybugs to the rescue!) and ate pesto, strawberries and parsley-riddled spreads thanks to our miniscule garden.
We learned how to do more on our bike than just ‘coast like toast’ and now use our pedals, and we learned to put a book down and return it to the library when it sucks… oh no, wait, I’m still learning how to do that.

We learned new musical exercises to gain manual dexterity and musical flexibility as well as going to a few shows with new friends and old.

This summer we lost a dear friend too quickly, though she had a good run at life and in the end, she wasn’t going to stick around and have people care for her.  She cared for others all her life, people and plants alike, and now she’s in a better place, tending a celestial garden and loving everyone there without judgment or fanfare.  Now we are learning how it is we explain death to someone not yet six years old.

We’re still learning how to drink out of a cup without sending it all down our chins, but at least we’ve decided to drink cow’s milk, which makes it easier on mama.
We’ve spent quality time with imaginary creatures, furry and hairy, including Babe, Mercy Watson, Elmo, Chester Cricket, and Bunnicula and enjoyed their company.  Thanks to the wide spacing of kids, some of them are on their second round of introductions and others will get reintroduced in a few years.

This summer was spent living and learning, and no doubt the fall will be full of more of the same.  Summer is a wonderful season, and we are enjoying this season of our lives.
Okay, class—tell me what you learned this summer.  Type your answer in the comments section below.