quest

school is out. give or take a couple of meetings, our summer as teachers has begun. which sounds like a lot. but between recovering in june and gearing up again in august, it comes down to beautiful, untouched july. nonetheless, the question of the hour becomes "what are you doing this summer?"

as i write, one friend is writing and painting her way across europe. another pal is taking a two week french cruise. (those are hard to beat). one family is helping their daughter through back surgery. and another gal's mother fell and broke her hip, so she is caring for her. (these are exercises in family strength). sometimes we get to choose adventures and other times, they choose us.

having had so many experiences--mostly great--in the last decade, what sounds good to me is adventuring at home. experiments in kerr canning or getting up to weed the berry patch sound just fine. taking the bike out for a ride or having people over for an evening around the outdoor fire pit.

one tradition i have on the last day of school is buying a children's book. yesterday i chose "the tale of despereaux" by kate dicamillo. a fitting exerpt:

"now you're free. you see. you're not going because you have to. you're going because you choose to. 'yes', said despereaux, 'because i am on a quest.' the word felt good and right in his mouth. quest. say it, reader. say the word 'quest' out loud. it is an extraordinary word, isn't it? so small and yet so full of wonder, so full of hope." (p.221)

what is it that you are choosing...what is your quest?