Sunday, October 23, 2011

summer is really-and-truly gone.


Summer really is over. I've accepted it. We got home from the beach last week, and the air was cold and the sun was warm, it smelled like bonfires, and the sky was October-blue. I grinned my head off and sighed and said "okay. this is autumn. I relinquish my bad attitude."


I was going to do a massive summer-photo-recap post to give me closure, but then I realized I had this backlog of random photos that I'd never posted.


Ashland with Bethany and future-sister-in-law Rebekah

This summer was wild. It was. I don't think I've gone that many places in that little time, ever. Bethany and I became elite car packers.


I checked off seven things on my bucket list and did a bunch of things I didn't know I wanted to do, but I totally did.



California ocean 
It was the summer of decaf frappuccinos and superheroes and cranberry juice and getting sunburnt on the beach. I graduated, I turned 18, I bought a Mac that has truly changed my life.



I laughed more than I ever laughed in my life. I danced not near often enough, but when I danced, I danced like there was no tomorrow.


Even though there was a tomorrow. A bruised and sore and exhausted tomorrow. But a looking-back-and-remembering-every-moment and knowing that it was oh-so-worth it tomorrow.



I wore a Polish navy-blue polka dot dress. I got my first "I love you" from one of the cutest little girls in the world.  A friend became a bosom-friend-forever friend.


It was the summer of hot, noisy, theme-song-filled car trips. Going places that I've always wanted to go, even though they aren't that far away or especially magical.


my niece Katie finger (and/or foot) painting.


It was a summer rampant with drama--the good, the bad, and the ugly. And the very, very beautiful.



It was the summer of staying up past four-in-the-morning repeatedly. Ditching things like emotional, mental, and bodily health in favor of living in the moment, in the moment that will never, ever happen again.


It was the summer of throttling the moment.



It was a summer of holding onto "last one forevers". The last car trip home from the beach with Benjamin before he gets married, laden with juice bags and sweet cereal and meaningful conversations about the future.




It was the summer of hope ("esperanza") and red bracelets and anchors and falling completely in love with Lucky Charms and Pinterest.




It was the summer of screaming my lungs out on fair rides and in a splendid theater during Les Mis.




I got hoarse countless times--from yelling my opinions and laughing hysterically and simply talking, talking, talking.



horrifying, giant banana men.




It was the summer of crying about things that mattered and things that didn't.....getting serious about things that matter and getting less serious about things that don't.


the field of flags, honoring every Oregonian soldier who has died in the war on terror.


including a 19-year-old, recently married boy from our hometown. 


It was a summer of blue manicures and being surrounded by honest-to-goodness-amazing friends who I'll love forever no matter what.




It was the summer of wonderful people who listen when I tell them things, and understand and advise and are on my side.



It was the summer of beach-tripping, over and over and over, until the beach is so much more part of my soul than it even was before.




It was the summer of holding on and letting go and the best. hugs. ever.





I slept the least I have in my life, and I laughed the most I have in my life. It was the best summer of all time, for so many reasons.








I'm sure you were much more mature and let go of your summer long before I did. But tell me about it.
What was your summer?

50 comments:

  1. Beautiful post, and pictures, and memories. I'm glad you had a great summer. =)

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  2. You are making me miss summer already.

    www.geekettegazette.com
    www.thegirlieblog.com

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  3. Love this post. I miss summer sooo much!

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  4. What a beautiful post, I loved hearing about your summer!! Your fair photos are gorgeous, I love the fair! :)

    My Summer was crazy full of two family weddings, one of them mine! I got to see friends who I dearly had missed, family I rarely get to see. I got to meet my new niece!! She is a doll. <3 I married the love of my life and we took off to Greece for our honeymoon. It was my first time swimming in the ocean and I had no idea how much fun I had been missing out on! :)

    My Summer was CRAZY but also amazing and I feel overwhelmingly blessed. <3

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  5. My summer was amazing too, in great part because of YOU!
    Thanks for being awesome.

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  6. i love this post- i cant believe summer is ending but your pictures are just wonderful! i loved my summer with traveling the world and getting engaged its so sad to see it end :( xo

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  7. This was such a lovely, happy post :) I've seen those giant bananas, and man, they are CREEPY. but kinda cool at the same time.

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  8. Oh man! Now I REALLY miss summer! Awesome post, glad you had fun.

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  9. BTW, I really really like all of your pictures!!! You should start a class or something!

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  10. aren't macs just amazing?! amen. this was a beautiful post, and the photos of the sky were so....beautiful. yeah, that's the word. :))
    -jocee <3

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  11. Beautiful post! My summer was filled with studies, but my autumn and winter are going to be far more exciting... :)

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  12. Ohhh, the banana men. Those things invaded my summer too! 0_o

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  13. Gorgeous. Pictures. Seriously. :) haha creepy banana men, it's funny watching people carrying them around and they're like falling over cause the banana men are so big. ha!

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  14. ugh, creepy banana men.

    but still, such a gorgeous summer captured in such a stunning manner.

    i always love your posts. <3

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  15. Beautiful post!! I went to my first fair this year... first time screaming my head off in public. :-P

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  16. Wow, beautiful post! Sounds like you had an amazing summer!
    I went on my first missions trip this summer, and fell in love for the first time.

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  17. beautiful!! made me hungry, though....

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  18. beautiful post and gorgeous photos! especially the ones of the hand/foot painting.(:

    this-real-heart.blogspot.com

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  19. These were all beautiful. I love this post.
    Autumn is my favorite season and I was wearing my boots, jackets, scarves and long jean skirts as soon as it hit seventy. :)

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  20. Beautiful post! The pictures were amazing!

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  21. Oh my gosh, I live in Ashland! That's so cool that you got to visit it! :D

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  22. What a beautiful post! I love all of your photos and the emotions they show.

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  23. You and your food pictures! They are wonderful subjects to photograph. :) Happy fall!

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  24. Golly. I love your pictures, so much! It makes me want summer again, so bad!! (But maybe not this summer... next summer will be awesome tho ;D )
    love you, beautiful lady!!

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  25. ooh la laah. my summer was epic too--lots of travelling, meeting new people, spending time with old ones. agh, I want to be able to talk to you about all these little things that you've done! it looks like your summer was amazing, all the more because it lasted so long for you.

    and of course, gorgeous photos. I happen to love that in nearly every single picture of you, you're wearing those nifty shades. (:

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  26. This si the most epicest post ever!!! <3
    K

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  27. A lot of what you said in this post is exactly how I feel about this past season. Though I adore autumn and am glad it's snuck upon us, I hold this summer in fond memory. I have my regrets, but SO many beautiful moments, like you said. :)

    blessings,
    Katherine

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  28. Awe. :.) Your post made me happy and sad. <3 I loved the photos. And I loved your pretty memories. I did..so much! And yet not enough. Every summer I wish I had done all I wanted to, but when it comes down to it..the little things were enough. Sitting on the beach watching the waves crash, yelling at the top of my lungs at the rodeo, riding horses for the first time in years..<3

    *sigh*

    By the way~I'm having a HUGE giveaway when I reach 600 followers (or by Oct. 30th, whichever comes first). I would love it if you could join us when the time comes! Here's a glimpse at the prizes. ;)

    http://one-beloved.blogspot.com/2011/10/600-followers-giveaway-preview.html

    Hugs!!

    ~Lucia

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  29. Hello! It is the first time I visit this blog and I love it. I loved this post, it is so lively and colourful and nice. Bye!

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  30. Beautiful Post! By the way, over at my blog, http://craftandcreate.blogspot.com/, I'm having a blog party all November long

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  31. I love this post. So much.

    "Ditching things like emotional, mental, and bodily health in favor of living in the moment, in the moment that will never, ever happen again." I like that part. =)

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  32. You're pictures are truly amazing!!! It looks like a wonderful summer!! =)

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  33. Aw, looks like you had such an amazing summer! Your niece is absolutely adorable :)
    www.saysskippy.blogspot.com

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  34. Hi! I'm a new follower and your blog blew me away, the name and picture is amazing (not to mention creative), and your pictures are so wonderful, I wish I was that talented!!
    Any tips for a much-less-talented photographer?
    ~Julie

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  35. oh my gosh! this looks so fun!


    make sure to come over and check out the giveaway i have going on, i'm sure you'll love it. :)

    love, rach.
    www.so--hi.blogspot.com

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  36. Great photos! Makes me wish summer was year round!

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  37. Hullo!
    I just recently stumbled upon your blog and I have been snooping it for the past week or so now. :) I really love it! Just wanted you to know you have a new reader! ;)
    ~Anna Grace

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  38. Also! I must say I love your movie posts! I am sure to get a laugh every time I read them! :D
    ~Anna Grace

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  39. I'm in love with your header....SO CUTE! Check out my blog and become a follower... (: http://pioneergirl-serenity.blogspot.com/

    Thanks,
    Serenity

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  40. Great photo compilation! I just wish I had taken as many photos as you did to remember later

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  41. I love your blog! wanna be interviewed by me on my blog? just comment on my blog!

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  42. That first photo is edible. I love your photography.

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  43. i could cry because this post is so beautiful. for serious. why must you be such a awesome person?! ;)

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  44. Wow!! Really nice!!
    I'm having a photo challenge on my blog if you would like to enter! =)
    ~Katie http://mylifethroughthecanonlens.blogspot.com/

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  45. Wow. I love it. The wording, The pictures. Perfect. :)

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  46. How are you so happy??? I wish I could be like you. :-(

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