I write this from Vail, Colorado, on August 10, 2021. It’s the third day of a seven day family vacation here. The last summer family vacation I wrote about was two Summers ago and before Covid. I took the kids on an East Coast trip and wrote about Father’s Day. The kids have grown lots and lots has happened since then.
My oldest, JD, is now 14 years old. He lives and breathes to compete in dressage, an equestrian sport. My twins, Michael and Analise, are now 12. They love soccer, surfing and lots of other stuff too. And I’m married now, to Leah Grace. We all celebrated that wedding in Maui in February 2020 — just before Covid hit.
It took away lots. There was no real Summer trip last year. And my kids couldn’t compete in sports or even attend school in person for a long time. But, at the same time, it brought us closer in many ways. And now we appreciate even more the joys of a trip like this one.
There is lots of fun stuff to do in a mountain town during the Summer. We have all skied before as a family but we are doing so much more on this trip. We have ridden horses, climbed rock walls, fly fished and hiked. We still get to zip line, mountain bike and do lots and lots more.
And then, we go home, the twins play in a big soccer tournament, and Summer is just about over.
For me, Summer time is family time. I also love family and the holidays. But during Summer, the kids don’t have to worry about school, work seems to slow down just a bit, and the whole world seems to celebrate and enjoy life just a little bit more.
I have been really lucky as a dad. My kids are really great. And they still seem to like me. They love Leah too. And they like spending time with me, and us, and doing things as a family. That is a real blessing. Like virtually everyone I imagine, my kids and family are the most important people in my life. And they are the most important thing in my life. I do what I do because of them and for them.
And so, as Summer ends, I am thankful. I am thankful for them and for all the fun and love we shared this Summer. I am excited to see them continue to grow and succeed and treat others with kindness in this school year and beyond. My Summer was great and I am sad to see it end. I hope that yours was special too.
