07/11/2025 (Austin Day 5): Basking in Bygone Summers and Sunshine

There’s nothing to rush to today; there’s only rest and relaxation. These are the best summer days, the ones where you get to sit by the pool and spend time with family. It’s so nice to just exist with no expectations, to let the hours pass by without a care in the world. 

Some of my best memories are from bygone summers: childhood family vacations, slumber parties with friends, full days in the pool. It’s also when I had the greatest summer of my life, after high school. It was that last three months before we had to pretend to be adults, to act like we actually knew what we wanted to do and be when we went off to college. It was a season of lasts, with all the people I knew and loved, and I know that I’m lucky to still be in touch with half of those people - and by half I quite literally mean two. 

I’m even luckier still to be able to love one of those two people every single day. I think that’s why I still hold summer near and dear to my heart, because many years ago that’s when our journey really began, beyond the realm of friendship, beyond group hangouts and half price shakes after eight, joyriding in a new car and swimming all afternoon at my childhood best friend’s house. 

I had no idea what would come after those days came to an end, how I would find what I found in someone that had been there patiently waiting all along. He always says that he knows I’ll come around eventually, in all aspects of life. I think he even believes that about us being together, before he even knew that about me. Either way, I’m glad he waited for me to wise up, because I can’t imagine what my life would be like if he hadn’t. 

He doesn’t realize the goodness he exudes, the love that has completely enraptured my heart in every way. Just like I can’t see the good sides of me, I know he can’t see the good sides of him from such a close up view. But I’m glad it’s me that gets to remind him of those things that make me smile and make me feel safe. I’m glad it’s still us stealing glances and holding hands, and that he’s still my best friend on the planet, even more so now than he was when we were just high school kids goofing off in art class. I hope we find a way to always keep that joy, that innocence of summer and that love that makes it all worthwhile. 

As our time with family comes to a close, I’ll look forward to the next leg of our journey and seeing some more family on our way back home.