Free AI web copilot to create summaries, insights and extended knowledge, download it at here

Abstract

y (I never knew their last names), fed squirrels and chipmunks in their backyard and would allow us to feed them as well.Swimming pool? Yours, a friend’s, local public pool. We used the state pool in a neighboring city. It was the only public pool in the area when I was growing up, so it was always crowded.Were sports part of your summer? As a player? Spectator? We played street hockey and baseball almost every day during the summer.Did you ever get hooked on a soap opera during summer vacation? That’s a big no.What was your favorite quick cool-down drink or method? Kool-Aid was a big deal back then. When I rode my bike to French Hill to play at the street hockey rink, I’d take a break at my aunt and uncle’s apartment. They always had a cold glass of water waiting for me.<figure id="bc03"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*Ip2_-RLBNym0JxGT1o2iZA.jpeg"><figcaption>Flyer Comet (Whalom Park). (2022, July 15). In Wikipedia. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flyer_Comet_(Whalom_Park)">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flyer_Comet_(Whalom_Park)</a></figcaption></figure>Was there usually a visit to an amusement park? Whalom Park was THE amusement park to visit — because it was the only amusement park in the area. The park had a fun house, mini golf, and a beach for swimming. The roller coaster, called the Flyer Comet, tame by today’s standards, was built with wood.Describe some annual local event that happened in summer that you were fond of. The Fourth of July was a big deal back then. It seems to be watered down these days. My dad would also take us to Fort Devens, an army post about 20 minutes away, for Armed Forces Day. The soldiers would let us crawl inside tanks and jeeps and look at their weapons. That’s probably how my brothers and I ended up enlisting.Did you suffer summer boredom, or did you basically just love it all the time? Summer was freaking awesome. There was always something to do.Were there fireworks? Just on the Fourth of July. And, of course, families in the neighborhood would drive to New Hampshire to buy fireworks, which to this day, are not legal in Massachusetts.If you’ve read this far, thank you for stopping by.I accept tips, which go directly to <a href="https://www.diningforhunger.com">Dining for Hunger</a>, a recognized 501(c)(3) organization that looks to end food insecurity. If you can spare a dollar or two, I’d be grateful.More stories from Bruce Coulter.<div id="648c" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/hate-makes-the-world-more-difficult-to-live-in-d0d7c4221d2c"> <div> <div>

Options

           <h2>Hate Makes the World More Difficult to Live In</h2>
            <div><h3>The light of racism is shining brightly, thanks to the GOP</h3></div>
            <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
          </div>
          <div>
            <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*JVpkfWCf8x_ivjZLy5P4Ag.jpeg)"></div>
          </div>
        </div>
      </a>
    </div><div id="dae9" class="link-block">
      <a href="https://readmedium.com/one-photo-and-a-few-words-lancaster-avenue-e04c09fb15db">
        <div>
          <div>
            <h2>One Photo and a Few Words: Lancaster Avenue</h2>
            <div><h3>Why I return to this spot throughout the year</h3></div>
            <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
          </div>
          <div>
            <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*8Y6UWrFRMBKRE3ECJsKAUw.jpeg)"></div>
          </div>
        </div>
      </a>
    </div><div id="6b34" class="link-block">
      <a href="https://readmedium.com/nights-like-these-can-be-toxic-for-me-4dafa2af63ec">
        <div>
          <div>
            <h2>Nights Like These Can Be Toxic for Me</h2>
            <div><h3>Writing is cathartic and I’m glad to have other Medium writers around me</h3></div>
            <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
          </div>
          <div>
            <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*rzMYLbNjm_sXmbkn)"></div>
          </div>
        </div>
      </a>
    </div><div id="c3e5" class="link-block">
      <a href="https://readmedium.com/losing-a-parent-is-never-easy-34122be4d8ca">
        <div>
          <div>
            <h2>Losing a Parent is Never Easy</h2>
            <div><h3>Make time to let people know you love them</h3></div>
            <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
          </div>
          <div>
            <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*COToo4HVvOsPtNfpy3BAXg.png)"></div>
          </div>
        </div>
      </a>
    </div><div id="62ff" class="link-block">
      <a href="https://readmedium.com/make-a-list-of-the-things-that-make-you-happy-30192073ffb9">
        <div>
          <div>
            <h2>Make a List of the Things That Make You Happy</h2>
            <div><h3>Don’t let a lousy mood spoil your day</h3></div>
            <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
          </div>
          <div>
            <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*p1P5w35XsPBSOWNjMTy--g.jpeg)"></div>
          </div>
        </div>
      </a>
    </div></article></body>

GROWING UP

Summer Vacations With My Family

A writing prompt

**A tire swing in the shade along a small creek. Quintessential summer.** Photo by author

I’m taking up the challenge offered by J.S. Phillips and Brandon Ellrich about how I spent my summer vacations.

Did you stay home or spend summers somewhere else? I recall my folks packing the kids in a station wagon (the cool ones with rear seats facing the back of the car) and taking us to several places, such as Georgian Bay in Canada, Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire, and Wisconsin, to visit relatives. I don’t recall doing this every summer. Driving around the country with six kids wasn’t an inexpensive vacation back then. I’m sure it’s worse now.

Summer camp? No summer camps. We ran around the neighborhood playing street hockey or baseball. Sometimes we’d ride bikes with our friends.

Did you usually sleep in every day or get up early, like during the school year? I want to say a little of both. Sometimes we’d sleep outside in tents and raid our neighbors’ gardens. We never took much, and the food did not go to waste.

Did you spend more time indoors or outdoors during summer, or was it a pretty even split? Outdoors. I’m a geezer: no internet, three main TV channels, and no HBO until the mid-70s. In other words, there was nothing to do indoors.

Was tanning a thing? To some degree, yes. I seem to recall it was mostly my sisters who got some sun. My dad added a four-season porch to the front of the house. There was a window on the second floor in the hallway, and we could climb out to sit on the roof.

Summer Vacation

A Writing Prompt

medium.com

Was the beach a thing? Lake, ocean, creek, river? We occasionally went to the beach, but most of the time, we visited lakes in the area to swim.

What’s your favorite summer memory of your entire childhood? We visited my grandfather and aunt in Ontario. I don’t recall where my aunt lived, but my grandfather had a place on Georgian Bay. His neighbors, Harry and Ivy (I never knew their last names), fed squirrels and chipmunks in their backyard and would allow us to feed them as well.

Swimming pool? Yours, a friend’s, local public pool. We used the state pool in a neighboring city. It was the only public pool in the area when I was growing up, so it was always crowded.

Were sports part of your summer? As a player? Spectator? We played street hockey and baseball almost every day during the summer.

Did you ever get hooked on a soap opera during summer vacation? That’s a big no.

What was your favorite quick cool-down drink or method? Kool-Aid was a big deal back then. When I rode my bike to French Hill to play at the street hockey rink, I’d take a break at my aunt and uncle’s apartment. They always had a cold glass of water waiting for me.

**Flyer Comet (Whalom Park).** (2022, July 15). In *Wikipedia*. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flyer_Comet_(Whalom_Park)

Was there usually a visit to an amusement park? Whalom Park was THE amusement park to visit — because it was the only amusement park in the area. The park had a fun house, mini golf, and a beach for swimming. The roller coaster, called the Flyer Comet, tame by today’s standards, was built with wood.

Describe some annual local event that happened in summer that you were fond of. The Fourth of July was a big deal back then. It seems to be watered down these days. My dad would also take us to Fort Devens, an army post about 20 minutes away, for Armed Forces Day. The soldiers would let us crawl inside tanks and jeeps and look at their weapons. That’s probably how my brothers and I ended up enlisting.

Did you suffer summer boredom, or did you basically just love it all the time? Summer was freaking awesome. There was always something to do.

Were there fireworks? Just on the Fourth of July. And, of course, families in the neighborhood would drive to New Hampshire to buy fireworks, which to this day, are not legal in Massachusetts.

If you’ve read this far, thank you for stopping by.

I accept tips, which go directly to Dining for Hunger, a recognized 501(c)(3) organization that looks to end food insecurity. If you can spare a dollar or two, I’d be grateful.