Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Summertime Slowdown: What This Time of Year Means to Me


Summertime Slowdown // Bubby and Bean

Even as an adult who works full time (indoors, mostly at a computer) all year long, I still associate summertime with those sacred weeks of lazy bliss that I experienced during school breaks.  It's so easy for me to view this time of year in that ethereal, idealized sort of way - where when I close my eyes, I see the daytime as bare feet and sundresses and swimming pool lounging under butterscotch lighting, and the nighttime as campfire-scented air and friends and music and fireflies and infinite stars.  And although the reality is that it's been a long time since June through August meant a break from school, it still has, for the most part, represented a break for me.

I started my clothing company not long after graduating from college, and my summer schedules began to fill with vending events.  I traveled the country in a 1978 Southwind RV, hitting up music festivals small and massive, peddling my wares.  It was a busy time, but it felt much slower than the rest of the year, when I mostly locked myself inside behind a sewing machine.  It was a lot of work, but it felt like a break to get out and wander.  In between those festivals, I visited friends, camped in the woods, found hidden swimming holes, explored new cities, enjoyed life.


Over time, the line evolved (and the RV was replaced with a more reliable vehicle, and eventually by airplane flights), and I started exhibiting at fashion and eco-related events that were held year-round, rather than just in the summertime like the music festivals.  But summer still meant something different than the rest of the year for me.  It continued to be a time for fun, relaxation, and travel - often to meet up with Robbie on the road during the band's summer tours, or to take weekend trips with him and Bubby dog during his breaks, or to go on spontaneous adventures with friends.  It also continued to represent a break from the norm, and (like the days of constant festival vending) felt slow and easy, despite the constant go-go-go.
 
These days, things have continued to change, and as life does as you get older, become more complicated.  The commitment to spend every weekday working on the blog as a business has created more of a repetitive daily work schedule for me than the more varied schedule of my past career - and this one doesn't adjust for the summer.  This is also my first summer as a mom, which, of course, is the biggest change of all.  But I've made a promise to myself not to let shifts in life, big or small, cause that sweet summertime slowdown to disappear.  If anything, I want to focus even more on continuing to make those idealistic summer daydreams of mine a reality.  I want Essley to experience the simple joys of these magical months; I want her to be able to close her eyes as an adult and see the same things I do when she envisions summertime.  I think that now more than ever, I am consciously aware of how important it is to step away from the bubble of the day-to-day and enjoy this precious time of year.


Robbie is home for two whole weeks right now, and to celebrate our first real time together this summer, we're heading up to our favorite little lake town for two days tomorrow - our first mini getaway as a family of three.  I can't wait to watch Essley feel sand between her toes for the first time.  I can't wait to eat ice cream cones and stare at the boats and feel the sunshine on my face and not think about anything other than enjoying the moment.  I can't wait to just be - with my two favorite people, basking in the summertime slowdown that I've come to adore so much throughout my life.  

No matter where you are, or how old you are, or what you do for a living, make it a priority to give yourself the chance to slow down a little this summer.  These days go by fast you guys.  Make them count.


P.S. The photos in this post are some random snaps from summertime adventures of the past few years.  I'm looking forward to adding more to the collection over the coming weeks.

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16 comments:

  1. I associate summer with slowing down and taking more breaks, too. In a cruel twist of fate, however, I actually feel more productive in the summer (I guess because the weather is so awesome?) so it turns into a balancing act of getting my projects done while also having some fun.

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  2. I love the summer months! However, I can't remember the last time I actually slowed down. My business seems to accelerate in July/August. Not a bad thing, but I do sometimes long for those carefree days walking barefoot, drinking iced tea...
    Have fun on your mini vacation!!

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  3. I can totally relate with that crazy realization that time just continues to fly by and if we don't slowdown we totally miss those little moments. A good reflection to stop and make sure we are appreciating the now.
    Also - totally digging that yellow bike. Utterly lovely.

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    1. My father-in-law scored that bike (vintage) and restored it for my mother-in-law. It's even prettier in person. :)

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  4. I can totally relate with that crazy realization that time just continues to fly by and if we don't slowdown we totally miss those little moments. A good reflection to stop and make sure we are appreciating the now.
    Also - totally digging that yellow bike. Utterly lovely.

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  5. We did exactly that last weekend...had plans to work on the house all weekend and scrapped them to just live life and enjoy the beautiful weather. I posted a few pics today.

    Lovely post! Hope you guys enjoy your getaway. :)

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  6. Summertime Slowdown...Exactly!!! It feels good! =0) Love this post, and I always love seeing that photo of the awesome vintage bike from your trip to Arizona.
    Have a great time on your mini-vacay - first one as a family of three...Sounds like some great memory-making for this trip. Enjoy!

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  7. Your words make me yearn to get outside more! We did spend a lot of time outside the last couple of weeks, but I'm SOOOOO ready to get on the river for some boating. We've had too much rain lately and the river has been bank-high most of the summer. I'm hoping it goes down so we can get out...it's the most relaxing place :)

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  8. Melissa, this is such a wonderful post. Although I've never felt about summer the way that you do, the way you write about it always evokes warm, wonderful feelings of something I've seen in movies and read about in books. I hope you get to enjoy every moment of the summer - this and every year :)
    xox,
    Cee

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  9. i love summer. i agree that it's the best time of year to make an effort to take things slow. i love the bike picture by the pool.

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  10. Thanks for your comments, fellow summer lovers!

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  11. This is so lovely. I don't think I ever really appreciated summer until I moved to this island in southeast Alaska. It has rained every day for the last two weeks and I am just so ready for some sunshine, tank top weather and to feel some hot, dry. Lovely! Enjoy and embrace it!

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  12. How special... your 1st summer vacation with the baby. I clearly recall the 1st holiday with my son. I carried him along the beach early every morning when it was quiet and would walk out into the waves and dip his toes in the water. He would curl up his tiny toes. My son graduated this year. I wish I could live just one of those mornings again. Savor your first special summer with your daughter.

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  13. I just rediscovered your blog through Roots + Feathers (I followed a long time ago, but my blog reader crashed + I had to start anew). Congratulations on your daughter... what an exciting new chapter of life. Glad to have found this place again!

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  14. melissa, i definitely consider you a summer girl! i relish these posts where you share so much of your soul, through your writing, & your images. then again, isn't that virtually what you do everyday, right? the pics of essley in her mocs are beyond adorable. have a fabulous time with your robbie & essley. :)
    .

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  15. Sorry if the comment deleted or if Im posting this twice but I just wanted to tell you that i relate to so many things in this <3 love you sis

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