Alphabet Wrap-Up

M = Mowing Grass Talk about a rite of summer! There is something about mowing the lawn that gives one a sense of accomplishment as it is easy to look back and see all that has been completed. My mower of choice was and remains a push-variety. Of course, the bane of my mowing was the looming possibility of coming across a snake. I despise the creatures and had I been in the Garden of Eden we would still have paradise because I would certainly never had gone near one.

N = Night Is there anything more wonderful than a summer’s evening? The cool, the lingering light, the crickets’ song, the fireflies, the smells --- bliss.

O = Outdoors The clear lake, the full pines, the berries, the brush and growth --- if you need a reason to get outside...summer gives you an abundance.

P = Paint The warmth of the sun, the long days, the time off all lend themselves to checking “paint the porch,” “paint the house” off one’s to-do-list.

Q = Quiz As has already been referenced, one of my favorite places ever was the front porch at my mother’s home in summertime. We would spend most summer evenings there as a family. Often, my brother would break out the quiz books and we would challenge, cheer, cajole and critique one another on our knowledge of useless information.

R = Radio The “songs of summer” blaring at the community pool or park; windows down and stereo on high as you cruised; the ballgame being listened to on the front porch. Although there is much to be gained by a ear-buds and ipods, the radio remains a great tool of community.

S = St. George I’m not referring to the summer sport of slaying dragons. I am referring to the home of my Aunt Ruth and Uncle Chuck in the town of Kennerdell along the banks of the Allegheny. It was here every Fourth of July that the Beale Family reunion was held. A reunion reconnects you to roots and strengthens the line.

T = Tionesta Our family vacations were spent camping out in Tionesta. No trailer, no cabin...this was serious, not-for-wimps camping. We hiked-in a mile over rocky terrain and set-up camp. We cooked each meal over a campfire and once a week went to swim in the Tionesta River.

U = Ugly Duckling Have you ever had the experience of coming back from summer vacation to begin another school year and noticing the previous plain kid suddenly transformed into the class beauty? Summer sun and freedom works wonders.

V = Volleyball With 20 people on a side, we whack at the sport at picnics and summer parties. Sand volleyball is iconic of summer be it played along the ocean’s shore or in a park with pebbly sand and the closest body of water being the creek.

W = Water Swimming at community pools, wading in creeks, taking a boat out in the lake, watching the ocean waves, squirt gun battles, and running through sprinklers --- summer allows for all to enjoy the wonder of water!

X = The mystery For a kid, summer has no schedule and each day one wakes to make of it what one will. Part of the gift of summer is the freedom and the mystery of what each day bathed in warmth and light holds and is yours for the making.

Y = Yawn Enjoy to the fullest those “lazy, hazy days of summer….”

Z = Zoltan The Pittsburgh Pirates are about to have a winning season….it’s been twenty years...the players continue to flash the “Z” of Zoltan and so do the rabid fans hungry, at last, for a winning team!

...J...K...L....

J = Jumonville The camp is named for the French general killed by General George Washington’s troops during the French and Indian War. Located on a mountaintop outside of Uniontown in the little town of Hopwood, Jumonville is one of the three church camps run by the Western PA Conference of the United Methodist Church. While in college, I worked two summers there as Program Staff --- a camp counselor. I lead groups through the Ropes Course, whitewater rafted, cooked-out, swam, lead Bible Studies, played endless games of kickball, made crafts (ugh!), and kept the children busy so as not to get homesick. It was here, that I received the call to ordained ministry. Sometimes, I wish the history of the name was a bit more peaceful.

K = Kickball This was the neighborhood game. We played it every day for hours. Looking back it made for a great sociological study. There was the ordering of rules: “Three fouls and you’re out” and to make it official adding, “I called it!” There was learning that strategy and a well-placed ball was far better than kicking it as hard as you could --- mainly because someone who grew tired of chasing the ball across the road declared, “Any ball that goes on the road is an automatic out...I called it!” Of course, there was that horrible act of choosing teams where someone’s self-esteem was always destroyed by the team captain yelling, “We took him yesterday, you have to take him today!”

L = Lemonade It seems almost wrong to drink lemonade anytime other than summer as it is perfectly paired with picnics and cookouts. A lemonade substitute was “Lemon Blend” which came in the gallon jugs and you mixed with water. After helping my father in the garden, we would come inside and he would butter Saltines crackers and we would wash ‘em down with a cold glass of lemonade.