A recent Monday was my first day of summer vacation. I didn’t have anything special planned. I went for a walk along the river with my husband, Paul, and then we did a couple of errands. But as he drove us around town, I realized I wasn’t even thinking about my usual Monday morning routine. I had slipped right into summer mode.
Yet, at the same time, I knew that shifting gears really isn’t that easy. I must have still been exhausted from the school year. I wasn’t relaxing; I was zoning out.
I’m a school librarian, responsible for supervising our district’s five media centers. During the school year, I am at the same elementary school just about every Monday morning. The library technician who works in that library is in another building on Friday, and she has a full schedule Monday morning. So I try to be there to help out.
I’ve been known, on the rare occasion when I need to be somewhere else on a Monday, to head to my usual destination before realizing my mistake. But not on the first day of summer vacation. I got up at the usual time, but I went about my early morning routine in a leisurely fashion. I didn’t give school a second thought.
One reason might be that my schedule dictates that I ease into the off season. In May, I visit all of the sixth grades to do a presentation about the middle and high school library. The elementary libraries end classes two weeks before school lets out. I have a lot more office work to do. At the high school, we are busy getting textbooks back from seniors before they graduate. Then the undergraduates start piling in.
Finally, the last day of school arrives. The students go home mid-morning. Staff has a luncheon, ice cream and an awards ceremony. Then we go home. Hooray! Just about two months off.
Except that I come right back the next day. I work another week, so I can finish up the myriad paperwork and tasks that come with the job. I appreciate the time. But depending on how many snow days we have had, sometimes this means I am working on my birthday, which is June 21.
I’m an adult and can handle working on my birthday. June 21st is, however, the first official day of summer, the solstice, which means it is a double celebration for me. This year, those five days of work brought me to June 20th. I was so excited. I would start my summer vacation on my birthday!
But it was also time to bring our two dogs to the vet’s for their annual physicals. Our vet’s office has been short-staffed, so I wasn’t sure when I could get an appointment. It turned out they had an opening on the 18th. I had no choice but to take it. Quinn and Martha are 13 and 10 and I wanted them to get their checkups as soon as possible. This opening was a godsend.
Oh, well, I figured. I would work half a day on the 18th, after the appointments, and then half a day on the following Monday, the 24th. Then I would still have my birthday off.
I changed my mind as the week progressed. The 21st was not going to be a great day, weather-wise. I realized that if I worked the half day on my birthday, I could still have a little fun that day. And then I would be happy that I was through with work for the summer.
So, I went out to lunch with Paul when I finished up. We went for a walk, and then to the garden center, which is one of my happy places. We watched one of favorite movies that night.
And, apparently, I was ready to slide right into summer vacation on the following Monday.
But it’s not all rainbows and unicorns. I’d hoped to do a day trip that first day off, but a problem with one of our chickens kept us close to home. I had three work-related meetings later in the week. The daily routines of cooking, cleaning and caring for pets continues. Medical and dental appointments for me and Paul loom in July. Columns must be written.
Oh, we do have a week away later this month. Almost forgot. Silver lining.
I have been in the education field for many years now, but there is always some moment in early June when I think, “What do I do with myself in the summer?” It’s a fleeting thought, because it’s a ridiculous one. Life goes on, with all its complications. Right now, I am just hoping that one medical appointment doesn’t lead to five more.
But I do appreciate the chance to read more. I volunteer a little, tending to a Free Little Library and helping with a school garden. I will finally get all of my own plants into the ground. It will take me a while to get into a new routine, but past experience tells me it will happen. It is bittersweet, because I know it’s only temporary, but so hard to resist.
After a few weeks, I will wonder how I possibly have time to work. And then, in a snap, I’ll be back at it.
But there’s absolutely no point in thinking about that right now.
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