My Top 5 Summer Fails

A butterfly decides to join me in a cup of wine.

I hate when the jealousy bubbles up within me reading other people’s posts and the photos of everywhere they have been. This summer , I have become that person. Our summer has been full of new adventures and lots of travel and our plans are that it will continue this cycle through the end of October. Some have commented that they wish they were living my life, while others express that they could never be that far from home on a regular basis. I realized after my recent blog about our trip the Rocky Mountain Park that I may be becoming that person who frames their life as perfect. I am happy living my life, but it is not perfect. Sometimes insects fall into my wine glass.  As much as I have loved my summer thus far and am loving all my new adventures, there are some petty flops and failures too. I thought I would list my top five.

1.  Though I had remembered to shade my face with a wide brimmed hat and made a last minute purchase to protect my arms from the sun during our fly fishing adventure, I forgot to protect my lips from the sun.  I got sun burn blisters across my bottom lip that a full week and a half after the adventure that are just starting to heal.

2. The bottom of my left foot can still be tender to walk on after the 53 1/2 miles I walked on our European vacation which is likely plantar fasciitis. The treatment is icing, ibuprofen and rest.  The rest is currently scheduled for November.

3. When we are home, it is constant work to catch up on house and yard work. And the "our float pool that never gets green." statement? Well, it has required more attention and chemicals than it has in the past because we are often gone a week at a time.

4. There is a 2 fold issue with Kenobi. First, finding affordable pet sitting when needed. When we camp, Kenobi is with us, but for trips requiring flights or our future cross country road trip with friends, we need to find and pay a sitter which takes additional money out of our traveling fund. Secondly, there is less Kenobi and me time. Last year, I was able to take Kenobi for a hike or long walk several times a week. Now when we are home I am so busy with house and yard work, I don’t have any time or energy to take him.

5. My garden takes a hit.  All of the work that I put into my garden, seems like a wasted labor of love.  My lettuce turns bitter before I can eat it.  My basil, dill and parsley often go to seed be for I have time to harvest and dry it.  My beans explode at the wrong time as I stress to try to get them picked and find the time to pickle them.  My tomatoes and cucumbers are in full bloom and will likely not be ready to pick before our August trip and rotting on the vine by the time we return.

 These are just five petty things that bring the reality of living life into my summer adventures.  Momentous or minor, we all have some truth in our lives that causes bumps along our adventure, even if it is not posted to social media.  I do my best to put positivity into the world, but my world is far from perfect.  But that is ok.  It keeps me appreciative. I do my best to see the beautiful butterfly who has chosen my glass to spread his wings and be thankful.