Susan Senator

A very big weekend begins. It is Ned’s birthday tomorrow, and the Massachusetts State Games of the Special Olympics. Nat will be swimming after lunch, at Harvard. Mom and Dad are coming for the Games and I will give Dad his Father’s Day present tomorrow. It is a great present, something I have made myself and I know he’ll love it. I can’t say because sometimes he reads this. Suffice it to say I have been full of summertime memories, of Out West trips and Mom and Dad, young and hippie-like (Mom, always stunningly beautiful, wore big floppy hats, big sunglasses, and pigtails; Dad wore long sideburns, cut-off jean shorts and cool tee shirts that said things like, “Go Climb a Rock, Yosemite Mountaineering School.” I have always been so proud of them, of their youthfulness and their idealism. And they love this country, and imbued us with the same love for it by taking us to so many national parks.

All this and Neddy Sweets. I will cook his favorite dinner tonight (Jambalaya with extra sausage and no shrimp) and a special dessert. I better get going on it (with Nat’s help, of course) because it is already 4 o’clock. I have some really good presents for him, and figured out what to do about the big one. We are also going out tomorrow night, to some good restaurant somewhere (his choice, so it won’t be fancy, you can bet).

Then Father’s Day and more swimming for Nat. The Flag Day celebration is big in my town, but I’ve been so many times and the boys could care less about the parade, the rides and the funnel cakes.

Summer’s here, and I’m for that.