I heart summer

SUMMER is just around the corner. Most of us look forward to summer vacation, notwithstanding the fact that we do not exactly have a summer vacation ever since we got out of school.

The first few years of my life outside of college and after law school later, I dreaded joining the nation’s “work force”, anticipating that I would then have to work to sustain my necessities (among others).

My mama was so generous with allowances (she was so happy I was doing well in my academics as an “iskolar ng bayan” then) and I lived somewhat so comfortably with the scholarship I was granted way back in college, and I realized I might find it so difficult to work to get that much money when I started working.

I was not disappointed, having my first job as a bank teller in between undergrad and law school, with my first pay not sufficiently sustaining my shopping sprees. I decided to go back full-time to law school, and I have to admit, lack of sufficient allowance was one consideration.
When I started teaching in law school a standard question for freshmen was: Why did you decide to go to law school? We would get all impressive responses like, “for fame and fortune” – don’t hold your breath for the last one, though, “because of the nobility of the profession”, “to help give justice where it’s due”, when the actual answer for many might be: for lack of anything better to do, or because you simply miss being a full-time student with all the perks incidental thereto. (Ha ha ha.)

Now that I have kids, I look forward to summer vacation if only to get a break – albeit short – from their school work and requirements. I don’t really have any hesitation helping out with their school work (wait, I am still contemplating if that statement applies to Math as well), but admittedly, it would be good to just take a breather from it all.

My kids are also so excited for the two-month break and are planning all sorts of summer outing as if money comes from the sky. Nah, not really...we actually have a huge (yes, huge) canister for leftover coins and money from baon called our summer funds. A bit too late a start, though, I think we started that project only in January (of this year!) and to date, sadly the canister’s contents seem enough only for fuel. Oh well, as they say, if there’s a will, there’s a way.

Despite my work being utterly ‘toxic’ every summer (clients of our office come in swarms this time of year, intending to mix business and pleasure in the City of Pines), I still resolve to find time to breathe and enjoy this summer with my family. It’s the season once again to terribly miss our special season with Lola Mama (for years our summers were with spent with her and summers have never been the same), but wherever we go now or however we enjoy our days she will always be a part of it.

I resolve to have a great summer. I know I deserve it. Everyone does, actually. (serendipity.couch@gmail.com)