My only brother turned 30 on July 27th, and of course, we celebrated the rite of passage, the dirty thirty, the dreaded number that signals the decline of one's basal metabolic rate, with what else? Tequila, of course. Jose Cuervo, to be exact. We sat on Paw's back porch and did shots to the sound of crickets, jarflies, and Bill Monroe (Blue moon of Kentucky, keep on a' shinin'….). My brother, who is an elementary school teacher finishing his master's degree (and going through a sour divorce), needed to chill. Especially on the night that immortalized the beginning of his 3rd decade. Within a few hours of breaking out Jose and singing along with Bill and Hank Jr., Shingus was the epitome of chill. Like the good sister, I managed to capture proof of said chilling on video for future reference.
The next day at Ethel's was a whirlwind of barbecue ribs and cupcakes. My son's birthday is two days after Shane's; I still don't understand how my firstborn keeps getting older while I remain as young as I ever was… The night of the 28th, all 12 of us climbed the fence at the back of Ethel's yard, ran into the dark fields and woods, and went on the first "boo hunt" I've gone on in over 10 years. Boo hunting involves nothing more than darkness, a few open minds, and willingness to get the wits scared out of you. Cecil, as always, hid patiently in the woods and garnered more than a few screams for his efforts.
A few of Shingus' friends from North Carolina sauntered up for the weekend, and I can now claim that they are my friends, as well. I don't let just anyone join in on my kid's birthday spanking, after all.
August began with the most sultry, humid heat I've experienced in several weeks, as I'd hoped it would. By August's end I know I'll anticipate the crispness of Fall evenings and the glorious golden twilight that accompanies them, but all the while, I'll be lamenting summer's quick passing. Soon enough I'll be wading through more books and rising early for a pediatrics rotation (which I'm not looking forward to). Still, I have 3 weeks of freedom left. So far, I've spent the summer very unwisely, as I promised myself I would. I suppose now is the time to wisen up. Get it together, so to speak. But first, I have a few more unwise fancies to pursue. Maybe a few more boo hunts, perhaps.
