School is out!

At least here in the northern part of Oregon, school is out. I remember well that feeling of exultation on the last day of school. The possibilities seemed endless, fun awaited each and every day.
We spent a lot of time at the 'shore' as we call it in NJ. Almost every weekend the family went down to our little shack..and shack it was. No hot water, no bathroom, 2 bedrooms and a kitchen that was it. And there are 5 kids in my family! All of my cousins, aunt and uncles and grandparents on my paternal side had cottages,even some real houses right, on the same block.
We were about 10 minutes from the bay and 20 minutes from the ocean on property surrounded by woods. It was heaven for us along with our 11 other cousins. We had free range of the street,woods,woods road and each cottage contained a relative who cared about us!

It was just like the Kennedy compound in Mass. Well except for the shacks -no bathrooms - no hot water and outhouses!

Days at the beach, barbecues every night, all the fathers there on the weekends, always someone to play with,adventures to have with cousins. The boy hater's club and the women hater's club- these were institutions each summer. We kids had rules and regulations, handshakes, passwords and a fierce determination to beat the other club in whatever games we made up. We played outside till dark every night, tag though the woods scaring ourselves silly by screaming as we ran!
Ah summer..that's what it's all about.
May you and our children have endless adventures, days at the 'shore' and lots of love this summer and always.

Sleeop tight,be in touch,
Anne-Louise