Friday, June 14, 2013

Riding With Amy

Cherry red cruiser bike.

Open road.

Basket full of sandwiches and lemonade. 

Wheels spin as I race to catch up with seventeen again. 

Make time go backwards.

If only for a little while.

 

My 33 words this week, inspired by outings with my daughter.

Summer, to us, is both complicated and uncomplicated. Intricate travel itineraries and kicked-off sandals with sand still clinging to the soles. Carefree cloud-gazing days spent lying beside one body of water or another and big money spent on childcare and amusement parks. It means leaving home or coming home. This weekend we're asking you to describe summer in your own words. Thirty-three of them exactly, of course. Good luck!

63 comments:

  1. Ride like the wind Cherry Red! ♦♦

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  2. let me know if you catch up with that 17 year old again :) Right there with you.

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    1. I will Barbara, and I'll pack an extra sandwich too:)

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  3. If only for a little while... How I wish!!! Lovely... Very sweet :)

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  4. I do wish I could go back for a little while. Seventeen year old me was full of hopes and dreams that forty-eight year old me has lost. However, she was a little s**t and needed some sense smacked into her. She wasted altogether too much time mooning over idiot boys who weren't worth her time.

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    1. Ah yes, I was a bit like that too. Now I just love hanging out with my beautiful daughter:) Thank you so much for your comment!

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  5. Lovely, and even more so because your daughter inspired. it. Children sometimes age us, but then in moments of clarity, remind us of how to be young again. Thanks for this beautiful image.

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    1. Emily-so well put, and so true! Thank you for your wonderful comment!

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  6. This is the perfect capture of childhood summers. Wonderful descriptions.

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  7. I could definitely rewind for a little bit, too. This is such a nice piece. Thanks for linking up. Don't forget to come back and vote at the end.

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    1. Getting a new bike was one of the best things I've done in a while:) Thank you so much for reading this-and I will:)

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  8. Awww how sweet :) Baskets full of sandwiches and lemonade remind me of summer for sure! Hope you have a great weekend, Valerie!

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    1. Thank you, dear Tammy! And I hope you have a great weekend too!

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  9. Oh yes, I think we all "lose 10 years" or so for a few months as we take in the sunshine don't we?

    (I love the new blog design, it's so wonderful)

    and I loved "if only for a little while", it's that slowdown and stroll that I look forward to in the summer months.

    HAPPY WEEKEND !

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    1. Kir, we do! It's so energizing! And I'm so glad you like my new blog design-it was hard to let the other one go, but this one is so much more "me." :)

      A very happy sunny weekend to you too!!

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  10. The rule of Sun has that effect on our hearts.

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  11. Here here! I love "basket full of sandwiches and lemonade" This creates a vivid image. That cherry red cruiser bike! Oh you've brought back some happy memories! :D

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    1. Linda, I'm glad to have brought back happy memories! I think a red cruiser bike and a picnic lunch tend to do that:) Thanks so much for reading!

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  12. Thanks Jo-Anne! I'm looking forward to more of them!

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  13. Chasing seventeen - I love this idea. Beautifully written!

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  14. Oh yes, to give me just a taste of seventeen again!

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    1. Dawn, I'd go back for a little while too. And Lisa, that means a lot!! Thank you both! :) xx

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  15. You count on me for a smile? Seriously. OMyGosh, how sweeeeeet. I count on you to make me smile. Awh ~~

    Please be sure and see my post on Monday. It will make sense as to why I am replying to you on Saturday. (sneaky) It is all good!

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    1. I do Renae! I'll be there tomorrow, for sure!! xx

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  16. Lemonade and sandwiches. I close my eyes and feel the wind and can anticipate the picnic. Nicely done!

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    1. Thanks Renee! I always think that sandwiches and lemonade taste best on a bike picnic:)

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  17. Love this! I can almost taste it. If only we could go back to those moments... :)

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  18. I love this! Just love it. Our children do give us a chance to relive the joys of our youth, if only in moments.

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  19. Summer does seem to be the perfect time to try and capture youth. This is lovely!

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    1. Thanks Draug! I know from some of the skimpy outfits I've seen on those who are no longer 17 that what you've said is so true;)

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  20. This is lovely, I want to race back to seventeen too!

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    1. Thank you! Me too! I just hope I'm not too tired when I get there;)

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  21. Great mood - powerful, whimsical finish...very - PS...come join this challenge too! http://yepirategunn.weebly.com/2/post/2013/06/ligo-haibun-challenge-1406-2106.html

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  22. I loved this line,; Wheels spin as I race to catch up with seventeen again.

    I thought one could read wheels spin as actual bike wheels or as mataphor for no progress.

    I will say that though I am 41 all of my bikes are cherry red, even the one that I have now.

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    1. Thank you, Jennifer-I love your keen observations. A metaphor for no progress is perfect!

      I've had a blue bike, and a black one too. My first one was red, back when I was 5 or so. I seem to recall getting into the most trouble on it;)

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  23. "Wheels spin as I race to catch up with seventeen again." i think everyone can find a way to be young again in summertime (:

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    1. Renada-I think so too! Thank you so much for reading this, and leaving such a nice comment!

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  24. I really love this. It's sooo familiar. Therein lies it's subtle genius.

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    1. Thank you for a comment that made my heart sing!

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  25. Oh, I wish we could... yes, a summer wish for sure.

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    1. It's possible Ted! I think certain times of the year are made for bringing out the youthful feeling in all of us-for a little while at least:) Thanks for your comment!

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  26. Wheels spin as I race to catch up with seventeen again.

    Just such a great sentence ... lovely

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    1. Thanks Bjorn! I'd probably get tired being 17 for too long, but it would be fun for awhile! ;)

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  27. So bittersweet to read, remembering younger days. :) Nice writing.

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    1. I agree. Time has a way of going by so fast. And that makes me sad. My own daughter is growing up, it seems, in the blink of an eye:)

      Thanks for your comment!

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  28. I love the going in reverse. So much happens so quickly in our lives. Its a wonder we pause enough to notice items that disappear but bring such strong memories.

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    1. Thanks Ann, and I agree. I try to remember to stop and smell the roses:)

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  29. You had me at cherry red. But you can keep seventeen. Great post, Valerie!

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    1. Thanks Kymm! Sounds like a good compromise:) Actually, I'd go back to my late 20's-for a while. those were good years;) xx

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  30. To catch up with 17 is a task now.....

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    1. Sini Rachel, It is! The older we get, the harder it gets;) Thank you so much for your comment!

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  31. That is an awesome, awesome line, Valerie - "...as I race to catch up with 17 again." LOVE it!

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  32. Hugs, Melissa, and thank you! You are such a gem:)

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  33. I love when you write about Amy!

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