“One Heck of A Ride!”

What’s something you looked forward to every year growing up?

I don’t think it matters where you live, our minds probably go towards the same thoughts during the summer. The weather may be slightly different depending on where you live, but when summer hits, our minds jump to vacation mode. Family trips to resorts and amusement parks. Graduation trips and celebrations. Fourth of July cookouts and birthday parties outside under huge tents.

I’m sorry if you didn’t get to experience any of those things growing up. But for me and my family, we were always planning some kind of trip during the summer. There are many birthdays in July for us. And you could always find us at some amusement park to celebrate! Geauga Lake and Sea World were big ones. And then that park changed its name to Six Flags. Then we also had Cedar Point and Kennywood. It was like Christmas for us – where are we going to go this summer, Aunt Lee? (She was the one who always organized the trips and celebrations and got us hype to go lol).

But I learned the hard way that amusement parks aren’t really for me anymore lol. I can get motion sickness really easily. And so I was never big on the spinny rides. But then the motion sickness would catch up to me on even the regular roller coasters! I hated it. I would get nauseous and a headache after like the 2nd roller coaster ride and be no good the rest of the day. Be ready to sit down and eat and go home. But now as an adult, we don’t look forward to the trips to the amusement parks, but we look forward to the next birthday celebration.

Now, my family doesn’t just do your normal birthday celebration. We don’t just gather around the table and sing happy birthday. But a DJ is hired, huge tents and tables and chairs are rented, plane tickets are purchased for us to fly home, an infinite amount of libations are provided, and some good meal will be on its way with way too many leftovers. And for many years, my Grandpa would have a formal, elegant, birthday celebration. Every 5 years we would celebrate him in our huge beautiful gowns in large ballrooms and halls. (I love getting dressed up like a princess and prom season was almost my favorite!) Yall already know how family-oriented I am. When I visit home, I am so content just being in my family’s presence. I can literally get dressed and never leave the house the entire time I’m home. And I love it. I love the vibe. The energy. The conversations. The memories. The laughter. The insightful moments. The ability to celebrate and congratulate.

I love taking time off and spending long periods with my family. This July I get to be home to celebrate my mother’s 62nd birthday and her RETIREMENT!! And 3 of my cousins have birthdays to celebrate as well! You know the tent, DJ, and libations will all be there too! Haha. I also get to catch up with my mom, brothers, nieces & nephews, aunts, cousins, uncles. We stay in contact via phone, texts, and our FB group, but it’s not the same as being with them. In the same home as them. In the same city as them. In the same state as them.

NO, I do not want to move back. But I do want to visit home more often. I am grateful I can spend long periods of time at home with my family. It’s still a hot girl summer! And even without the amusement parks or family trips, it’s going to be a fun roller coaster ride this summer! The time spent with my family is priceless. Let the homecooked meals flow and the mentally stimulating conversations never end.

That’s how I currently spend my summers with my family, how do you and your family spend yours? Let me know in the comments!

“A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.” — Proverbs 17:22, NKJV.

Moni Jay, Off the Record