By Susan Dromey Heeter
Joyful Musings
If you are a parent of a school-age child, work in a school or are anywhere near a school in June, chances are, you’re running on fumes.
I muse joyfully today on those events this month that bring us pause, that remind us to celebrate the end of a high school experience, a lacrosse season, a college career, a prom date. And I muse joyfully on putting on that “home bathing suit” and waking myself up snoring in the backyard with a People Magazine on my lap to celebrate my own well deserved pause.
Susan Dromey Heeter
The “home bathing suit” is that one, of course, that does not ever see the beach, is not worn for flattery or potential compliments, is the one that has been ravaged by chlorine, by sun and may barely fit anymore.
Mine is from Lands End circa 1998. It’s formerly navy blue but now is more a grey, faded color – a color which has never made it to the Crayola 64 boxed set. I look like a cross between Kevin on “The Office” and Aunt Bee in this bathing suit; it’s simply a piece of fabric to throw on when I am done. Done. Done.
And I want to swim, sleep in the sun and cover up this body that has sat in too many chairs clapped over too many “most improved,” “you are the future,” “follow your dream” speeches. Granted, I love celebrations, occasions of grandeur, moments to mark hard work and dedication, but in June? By the time the last chair has been folded, the floors swept, the balloons popped, I am entirely grateful to fade and read material that has nothing, absolutely nothing to do with future endeavors, greatness, future anyone.
I want to see “Who wore it best?” and decide if my choice is the same one the editors picked. Generally, it is, I just picked America Ferrera over Reese Witherspoon, Miranda Kerr over Jennifer Lopez. Do I know these people? Care about them? Nope. But I want to read of nothing significant, nothing to be tested on, nothing to be put into evaluations, summaries, year- end write ups.
I want to read of Prince Harry and relive the wedding. I want to look at pictures of George and Amal Clooney – I wonder if Amal has a “home bathing suit” she wears on the shore of Lake Como? I suspect it’s probably a bikini and I doubt she falls asleep with Cheeto crumbs all over her stomach, oranged fingers that have stained the pages of her latest People magazine.
Or, maybe she does? I know she does have twins who just turned one. Yup. She’ll need a nap and an at-home bathing suit one of these days. I hope she’ll wake herself up snoring on a chair by the lake.
And Joyful Musers, may you soon get into your own at-home bathing suit and study up on Who Wore it Best and cherish the memories of lovely year end celebrations.
Be well, enjoy those Cheetos and give yourself a round of applause for showing up. You are the future, follow your dreams and know that you, too, are most improved…at something.
As for me? Every year I improve my look in my home bathing suit. Thank you. Thank you so very much.
Susan Dromey Heeter, a writer from Dover who recently let her hair go au natural white, debuts her new column “Joyful Musings” at InDepthNH.org. Dromey Heeter is a secondary Spanish Teacher at Dover High School and the mother of two teenage daughters. Writing has been her passion since her English majoring days at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. Dromey Heeter has lived in The Netherlands, Alaska and currently basks in all things New England, including the frigid winters. An avid swimmer, Dromey Heeter’s great passion is to bring back body surfing as most children have no idea how to ride waves without ridiculous boogie boards. She also writes about thrift shopping and all things frugal in a column called “Budget Vogue” for the New Hampshire Union Leader.