My husband and I are at that awkward stage of the year.  That time of year when he is finished teaching and I’m not.  Okay, maybe more awkward for me than for him, and he drags me into his world before I’m really ready.  You see, we begin the school year together, but he finishes almost a month before I do which just leaves me counting the days.

Summer mode for us has meant many different things over the years.  One summer many years ago it was watching Magnum PI reruns until 2:00 in the morning and sleeping in.  Some summers it was spending time on the road going to drum corps shows.  It’s a time to catch up on movies we didn’t have time to see during the year, time to sit on the balcony with a glass of wine,  and look at the stars.  Time to take the convertible out to get ice cream before midnight, sit outside and listen to jazz and go to wineries.  There’s less routine, more spontaneity and time for us to talk.

Not that summer mode isn’t occasionally interrupted by reality.  There is still professional development to teach and attend, camps to teach, and various meetings, but most days are ours.  But this year is going to be a little different because we have a new person in our lives.

He’s nine years old, his soon to be mom and dad are moving down the street from us and he’s already informed me that he will be visiting often to swim in the pool.  I’m assuming that also means staying for lunch on occasion and doing some other fun things together.  He informed me today that he’s thinking of calling us G-ma and G-pa, which is fine with me.  He’ll be officially adopted in June and we’ll be first time grandparents.  So, summer mode is already beginning to look a little different.

Today, while I took some of my students to see the opera, G-pa took him to his soccer games, to the library and to lunch.  We haven’t had a whole lot of time to get used to the idea yet, and it’s different than starting with an infant, getting to know and love this child who only came into our lives a little less than a year ago.  Things are already beginning to look differently for the summer.

So 19 days and then I can officially be on summer mode as well.  I’m sure there will still be late night runs for ice cream and evenings at wineries again.  And I’m looking forward to whatever new adventures are in store for us as we begin a new chapter in our lives.