Marta and Charlie (from Marta’s FB Page)

That’s NO MATTER WHAT.  Because, when you get right down to it, summer has nothing much to do with the weather — or so I’ve learned since moving to the Pacific Northwest forty-some years ago.  And, these days, it has nothing much to do with whether or not you are on vacation from school or work.

No.  Summer has to do with seeing loved ones that you don’t usually see during the rest of the year.  And my loved ones are ON THEIR WAY!  Son Charlie and Bonus Daughter Marta arrive tomorrow and will be here for twelve whole days!  WOW!   They’ve told me they are coming to work — whatever jobs I need help with, they said — and Marta is insisting that she will do all the cooking.  (Please look for my report on this Blog eleven days from now.)

Ruth Espy Maloney

About midway through July my Cousin Ruth Espy Maloney and her family — children, grandchildren, etc. —  will be spending a week or so on the Peninsula and then Ruth and her friend Cindy Soderberg will stay here for a few days of Old Folks R&R.  Ruth has been doing a series of books on “the relatives” and I’m looking forward to seeing what she has accomplished.

Kuzzin Kris Jones

And a week or so after that, Kuzzin Kris Jones and her brother Kuzzin Bruce will be here for a few days.  Actually, I’m not sure if we really are related.  I think it’s only in a shirt-tail sort of way.  See if you can figure it out — my mother’s first cousin Barbara Espy married Kris’s and Bruce’s uncle Bronk Williams.  I know that Barbara and Bronk’s children are my second cousins and I know that they are also Kris and Bruce’s first cousins.  But I don’t think Kris and Bruce are anything but kissin’ cousins to me.  (We’ll know more when Cuzzin Ralph weighs in.)

So… I doubt that we’ll have snow this summer.  I’m unsure if we’ll have sun, and I’m pretty sure we will have more wind and rain.  So forget about the weather — that’s not the true test of summer.  THE RELATIVES ARE COMING!  That’s the true test!  It’s my Loved Ones who spell summer for me!