Hello MacMammas and Pappas:
Summertime is now in full swing as the kids go off to camp and the smell of wet towels, sandy shoes, and sunscreen invades our homes.
OMG, I don't know how I survived the last month: finals, end-of-year projects, teacher gifts, parades, fundraising walks, 2 kids' birthdays, Father's Day, and sending my daughter off on a whirlwind bus tour of the USA! I don't even want to think of all the money spent on clothes, hair, makeup, gifts, and more!
Amazingly, after way too many hours of shopping at the mall, Target, and other fine stores, my daughter is finally off on her USY on Wheels trip across the country. If it was up to her, she would have packed the whole mall. But somehow, we managed to get her suitcase to close without too much stress.
When we took her into orientation, she ran into the hotel like a crazy person hugging and jumping on everyone she saw. One staff member who knows her well said, "Hey Arielle, can you please act like a human." Aah, that is my Arielle--always full of excitement and joy. One of the best parts of the day was running into a friend from elementary school who I have not seen in over 35 years--her daughter is on the same trip, but on a different bus.
Last year, I LOVED vicariously traveling across the country with my son, and I can't wait to follow Arielle across the country too. So far, she has been much better at texting and sending photos than my son was. She has even posted all of her pics in a Facebook album. So far, she has driven through 5-6 states (NJ, PA, NY, OH, IN, IL), stopped at 2 parks (including Niagara Falls), gone to 2 museums (the Strong Museum of Play in Rochester, NY and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland), and even played WhirlyBall--a weird Midwestern mix of hockey, lacrosse, and basketball while sitting in a bumper car. She will be spending Shabbat in Chicago.
One of the things I love most about summer is all the outdoor fun--concerts, fairs, movies, and fireworks! And many events are even free! And if you are headed to a barbecue, check out our recipes for red, white, and blue potato salad, star-spangled watermelon, and marshmallow fruit sparklers.
Peace, love, and macaroni,
Merri & Sheri
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