A short musing on the theme of this mixtape: memories.
We’ve all got them, they all effect us differently, and we in turn remember them differently. For this case, I’m focussing on youthful summer memories. I fondly remember my summer family trips in our cramped car (see figure A), those seemingly unending highways, the hot hot weather, and my brother *bullying / annoying* me. And all the while I kept thinking that, even though we’d been there before, each subsequent time I was less sure that we’d ever arrive. But, the moment we reached our destination at my aunts lake house, nothing else mattered and life was good again. Upon arrival (late at night), my grandmother would always have freshly prepared kielbasa and loads of pierogis waiting for us. She was a Ukranian immigrant who didn’t know what salad was, and I was fine with that, but I digress…
After this first night, the trip was spent days of family I half-forgot about, friends I half-knew, boat trips, bond fires and smores, eating everything, and sleeping late every morning; it was just fabulous. However, no matter what I did, there was always the realization that with each day drew closer the nightmarish thoughts of cramping back into the hot hot car to drive endlessly back home to await another year-long sentence at school. No matter what I did, I couldn’t help but count down the days remaining every morning when I awoke.
Those were the days…
As an adult I often find my mind wandering back to simpler times, especially in the summer. I’m not quite sure why, but it happens all too often during the summer months, and for no apparent reason. This serves as a reminder of the old, cramped, hot caravan that would chauffeur us to and fro my summer memories.
This Is My Entry
For http://www.summermixseries.com/ -- if you’re looking for the cover art, you can get it here.
