As I reflect on the beginning of summer tomorrow @ 7:09 (EST) and all the rituals of summers pat, I realize that like most of 2012, my summer is going to be far from routine.  Ordinarily, as soon as my classroom is  locked at the end of our final day, I am off to Whaleback Island.  For those of you who don't know, Whaleback Island is on Lake Winn1pesaukee and  has been in my family since 1892 when my great-grandfather purchased it from the State of New Hampshire for $40.

For the last 54 years, I have spent most summer weekends there.  When my sons were little, we would pack up and go there for weeks at a time during the  summer.  There we would  settle into the easy  routine known as  CAMP.  At camp, we live by "island time".  Island time is  something one can understand only if they experience it first hand. It  involves waking up when you feel rested, eating when you feel hungry, sleeping when you feel tired, and mixing those three activities with  a lot of boating, hiking, reading, exploring, and sitting.      Much of our time there was spent with my "oldest friend in the world" and her sons either at her family's camp or one of mine.

I met Kath  during my first visit to the island when I was less than four months old and she was just celebrating her first birthday.  Except for during the occasional drama filled falling out, we have remained friends ever since.   In our teens we might often be found in a little skiff scouring the lake for "boys".  How comical this became to us once our summers were filled with  endless hours supervising the boundless activities of 5 active boys, while we chatted incessantly, and planned many ways to save the world.  The men in our lives would cruise in on Friday nights and cruise out on Sunday evenings.  This would sometimes be a pleasant distraction from our routines. When my two boys moved on with  their own lives, I would continue my island stays alone. Each summer I would adjust to the solitude at a rapid pace. Sometimes Kath would be around and we would be able to spend an hour or two together.  New routines were established.

This year has been far from routine.  On January 29, 2012 my life was sort of turned inside out.  I lost the home that my family and I built board by board, nail by nail in 1990.  On Monday, June 10, 2012 ground was broken for the new home that will be built for me, one that will be much smaller and far more traditional.  So, I visited the island this past weekend  to take the annual sigh of relief that  school was over.  But, I  only stayed for two days.  I will probably visit family there periodically throughout the summer. The old routine is being put aside.  Aside from the first 28 days of January, most of the year has consisted of  putting things aside so that I can try and figure out the next steps.

 I want to take this opportunity to tell friends and family how grateful I am for all of the support you  have  given me over the last few months.  Although certainly not as devastating as the loss of a loved one, this has been a difficult loss for me.   I am ready for new beginnings .

I wish you all a summer full of long joyful days.  Cheers!