Friday, July 12, 2013

Frock Fridays: #AmericanSummer

Jon with Nana, Pappy, Mom, and Dad; Connecticut, summer 2009

I'm afraid I've been giving America short shrift on this blog recently.  It makes sense, I guess, since I was just in London for 12 days and I'll be flying back to England in five weeks for my wedding, but I'm still feeling a little guilty about it.  Maybe part of the reason I haven't been so gung-ho about this #AmericanSummer is because I don't have a real vacation planned.  I mean, my bachelorette weekend away on the Eastern Shore will be amazing and yes, I have two trips to the UK this summer, but, honestly, they're more like working holidays.  I did so much wedding stuff (and professional things as well) while I was in London recently and I'm sure that the days leading up to my wedding will be full, too.  Anyway, all of that is very grown-up, you know?

But last night we had our first massive thunderstorm of the summer in DC and today my parents head up to my maternal grandparents' house in Connecticut and, because of that, I'm feeling a great pull to the summers of my childhood.  We'd pile into the car (a boxy Volvo station wagon, obviously; I take great delight in the cliché that my family was in the '90s) and drive up I-95, the way back stuffed with duffle bags and kid-friendly snacks.  Snickers, our yellow lab, would take turns standing on either my sister or me so he could stick his head out the window to catch the air flying by, and Sarah and I would shriek when his drool dripped onto our bare arms.  We'd have to pull over at rest stops at least twice for pee breaks, making the 6 hour journey last about 8, and I only ever remember getting Nathan's Hot Dogs for lunch.  At various points, Mom and/or Dad would yell at us to stop fighting, and, when we were all getting along, we'd play word games and look for license plates from far away states.  When we finally pulled onto the dirt road that led to Nana and Pappy's house, the relief from all was palpable.

Writing out all of that makes me feel like I should go apologize to my parents.  Hang on a second...

Sarah and I spent a fantastic weekend in the country with our grandparents last summer, and it's actually where Jon really got to know Mom and Dad and met Nana and Pappy back in August 2009, so it's got wonderful adult memories associated with it, too.  I'd love to go back next summer with Jon and Charlie and the whole mischpocha...

#AmericanSummer

24 comments:

  1. That picture needs more sunscreen. ;)

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  2. Much better. My pale paleness thanks you.

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  3. Cuuute outfit. And it amuses me that a collage of an American summer must involve bug spray and citronella candles. Except those darn mosquitoes are not funny at all. I get to return to the family cottage of all my childhood summers next week... can't wait!

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  4. Lovely family pic! Thanks for sharing! Whenever I get to see you and your sister, I cannot help but to think that you're like your father, and she's like your mother! Tú te pareces a tu padre, y ella se parece a tu madre. Am I right?
    Gracias, enjoy your weekend!
    María

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  5. um OBVIOUSLY. my letters home from summer camp when I was a kid would always include the latest counts of my mosquito bites. ew.

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  6. This outfit is SO east coast. There's no way you'd catch me in a cardigan right now! ;)

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  7. ah! usually people say the other way around but you're right, I definitely have Dad's smile there :)

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  8. I would love a big summer thunderstorm, sounds so relaxing somehow!

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  9. Absolutely love that outfit, I'm a huge fan of cardigans. They're perfect! And Off Spray is, of course, a must. I grew up spending my summer's on a lake in Wisconsin, so I know plenty about how bad mosquito bites can get! So happy that I found you through the blog hop!

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  10. I am in love with that dress!

    My family used to holiday all over the UK when I was younger - it's only as we got older that my parents decided to stay closer to home. How they managed 12 hour road trips to Cornwall from Yorkshire with three kids under the age of 10, I will never know....

    Maybe I should go apologise/thank them too, haha.

    soweliveforever.com

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  11. That dress is perfect! I need it!

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  12. it would have been if I hadn't had two scarydycat dogs freaking out!

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  13. Oh man YES! I went to summer camp in the woods in Minnesota, where I learned that the state bird is the mosquito :P

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  14. sometimes you do find pretty things from blog giveaways! that's how I found this :)

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  15. oh my goodness - I have NEVER met anyone in the UK who would do a 12 hour road trip! everyone says that anything longer than 4 or 5 hours is too much for one drive. you're practically American! haha

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  16. First, I love that cardigan.


    Second, your recap of your drive up to CT (where do they live?) makes me think of our drives to Florida from CT. You must have stopped in New Jersey for those Nathan's hot dogs, since they're at just about every single rest stop! And I have always wanted a boxy Volvo wagon. Serious dream car. :)

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  17. i love that tank top tress and i love how you included sunblock and off for your american summer post :) hope you enjoy your summer trips! :)


    rhea @ www.rheaetcetera.com

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  18. I love that your American Summer involves OFF and citronella candles! Brilliant!!

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  19. I can see the road trip memories you've conjured perfectly, you've painted them so well. Now I'm nostalgic for my childhood and the Taconic State Parkway :)

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  20. Ooooh that makes me feel strangely proud! Haha.

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