To Be 19 in the Summer of 2019

This summer I came back to my hometown of Crystal Lake, Illinois after my first year of college with high hopes of seeing old faces and reconnecting long lived friendships. I came home with a lot I wanted to accomplish, and by that I mean I wanted my summer to be filled with nonstop fun: bonfires, parties, boating, constant company, and spontaneous trips, hey maybe even meet someone ;)

What I am leaving this summer with is all of that and more. This summer was to me what I would imagine to be one of those ideal periods in life that you look back on quoting stories from "the summer of 2019." Though I believe this, by no means do I think this summer was perfect--I mean what ever is? But it was what I needed.

There were a lot of lonely days that I spent bored out of my mind. Yet there were a lot of wild and amazing moments that made up for every instant of boredom.

Similar to my first year in college, being back home has taught me a lot about myself. It's interesting seeing old habits reappear when you get back to the place you grew up, but equally fascinating to see how you handle situations with newer traits you picked up after moving away from home.

I feel the best way to document my summer is through chapters, my first chapter being...

1. The Cottage

My stepdad and stepsister have a cottage that I have been going to ever since I was tiny enough to wear an XS in Justice swimsuits. Right after I flew home from school, that first weekend back, my mom, stepdad, brother, stepsister, and cousins headed up to the cottage for a long weekend. I have one of those families that feels like just a bunch of your best friends and I was in need of some family time. This trip to the cottage particularly will be one that I won't forget. I always say that the cottage brings all the kids in the family closer together, but something about this visit up made that statement more special. No longer are we just little kids always needing someone or something to entertain us, we're now all out of home, 19+ year olds, who completely just mess around, laugh, and party. And let me tell you, we had a BLAST.

2. Boat Season

I have to say, I have never been outside this often during a summer since 2006. Much of this had to do with my skill of landing wonderful friends who might I add, do indeed have a boat. Cheers to boating seasonnnnnnn

3. A Trip to the Zou

I was really sad to know that two of my best friends weren't coming home for the summer, instead they were staying at their school (Mizzou), so we decided to bring some home to them as me and my two other best friends made a trip out for the weekend to see their lovely faces!

4. Plymouth, WI

Next I made a visit to one of my best friends hometown from college. After driving my ass three hours up to Plymouth Wisconsin, I made it to the home of the wonderful Luci Hoitink. It was so fun to finally put faces to the names I had been hearing about all year and seeing how close knit everyone in her town is. Wisconsin definitely knows how to have a good time.

5. Fourth of July

The weekend of the fourth was one for the books. Little did I know going into that week that I would be night swimming in my friends boxers at 3am, driving home at 5am, partying on a boat until it felt like August, reconnecting with people I hadn't seen since I was 6, and watching the fireworks surrounded by people I grew up with over our town's lake. It was magical, all of it.

6. Roanoke, Virginia

Almost as if I was on this seasons Bachelorette, I went on yet another hometown visit to the lovely state of Virginia, home to my angel of a best friend Emily. I had never been to the state of Virginia before and might I say that Virginia is a place to see!! I couldn't get over the mountains, delicious food, waterfalls, and friendly people. It was definitely a trip I won't forget.

7. Lollapalooza

A weekend that had been looked forward to since 10am Art History class where I missed half a lecture anxiously awaiting the tickets to drop (sorry Professor Weinstein). Every year, Nina and I pump each other up for the highlighting weekend of the summer, and this years did not disappoint. Minus the fact that I had a band-aid on my forehead (I mean everything's all in good fun and for a memory am I right), Lollapalooza 2019 hit right.

8. Father and Son Trip (and now Daughter!)

That's right, this year I finally made it on one of the infamous trips that my dad and brother take each year. We went to Cedar Point and Put-In Bay. It was so crazy being back in Cedar Point because it was probably 12 years since my last visit. I had so much fun spending time with my dad and brother and it just made me super appreciative of the wonderful people in my life.

And from there my summer went on with the beautiful people I enjoy spending my time with as everyone slowly began to get ready for the start of school. Cheers to good friends who will act like there isn't a huge piece of gauze taped to your face, fires that were conversed over until 2 in the morning, Crystal Lake Sunsets, and memories that will last us lifetimes.