How We're Making the Most of Summer

Members of our community share stories on how they’re making the most of summer.

This summer, it seems like everyone is going somewhere. If you’ve been on the roads or watched the news, you’ve seen that planes, trains, and automobiles are full of summer travelers. All this is happening despite a resurgence of COVID and the added burden of inflation. People are looking for an escape, a respite, especially during the last full month of summer.

Back in June, we asked what folks were up to this summer. Many – from far and wide – talked about how COVID affected their last two summers and the way that influenced their plans this year.

Today, we’re handing the keyboard over to our readers who shared how they’re making the most of summer by strengthening their relationships.

Reuniting the family after COVID

Ellen from Charlotte, North Carolina, wrote that she and her husband, who are both retired, will be busy visiting family this summer:

We have our daughters and their families in Georgia and Florida, whom we have already visited for short trips, including a graduation. However, we still have two children and their families, as well as our siblings, in New York. So, we bought a camp in the Catskills, easily within reach of family in NYC, Albany, and Syracuse. This will be our first summer back, having feared travel in the past two years. We will enjoy time in nature, time with family, and taking care to remain healthy and safe, with many laughs and smiles!

Gardening in paradise

One of our readers, from Hawaii, is staying local this summer:

I am happily spending this wonderful time working on a great garden that includes fruit, vegetables, and flowers. It’s great to have a big garden in Hawaii because everything grows so well.

Coping with the loss of a daughter

For one mom, this summer will finally be a time of some celebration:

Very sadly, we lost our youngest daughter two years ago during COVID, and it’s been a very difficult time. But this summer has helped because my granddaughter graduated from University of Alabama with a master’s degree and found a wonderful job.

Also, this summer two of my favorite young ladies who are sisters that I’ve known since they were born, got married within one month of each other. I helped with each wedding by doing their flowers and other decorations. This gave me great joy because I knew I’d never be able to do this for my daughter. I will also be helping with the wedding shower for a young man and woman who I’ve known for only a short time, but their mother is a very good friend.

Finally, my husband and I celebrated our 52nd wedding anniversary in June. Please keep doing what you’re doing. The Pulse stories are a wonderful way for all of us to relate to one another.

Breaking an island fever

And then we heard from one community member who lives in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, 2,000+ miles from the mainland US and Asia. She has a busy summer planned!

We have Sunday dinner with the nuclear family, which during COVID lockdown and home schooling was more like every day. Both daughters used my home to work remotely and help each other with their kids’ Zoom classes.

We have been on no trips for three years. So, I finally booked a few! First to the San Francisco Bay area to visit my sister and attend my grand nephew's graduation. My other sister came too, so we had a sister's reunion. And we are leaving for a salmon fishing trip with several friends this week. We also have a three-week cruise with nuclear family in late July and August, so all these trips should take care of island fever till next year!

Whether you’re staying home, gathering with family, or seeing friends, remember to stay safe this summer since COVID is still present. Doing so will help you enjoy the time away and the time together with loved ones.