Those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer...
Summer is here and brings with it graduations, vacations, baseball games (pro and otherwise), lazy days at the beach, backyard cook-outs with family and friends, and much more. Summer is a time for all of us - kids and adults alike - to take a breather from the stresses of every day life and take things easy... if only for a week or two. This is a time to plan special outings that make sense for you and your family - the ages of your children, your finances, and the price of gas, and so on.
This year, my summer vacation will be spent with my niece and nephew (14 and 16, respectively). We normally hop in the car or on a plane and go long distances for vacations (Memphis, Boston, Rhode Island), but this year they are coming to our home to spend a week their favorite aunt and uncle! We have plans for the beach, the gym, the movies, the Wild Animal Park, the water park, the county fair, staying up late, and driving in the country to buy strawberries for jam and cucumbers for bread and butter pickles. They have also put in a special request to learn how to make my secret, from scratch, chili. Sounds corny, I know, but they can't wait to come see us! We try to plan things to do that are different - yet safe and fun - and will survive as memories for them and us for the rest of our lives. And for a brief moment, all of us get to be teenagers... and it just doesn't get any better than that!
July 4 is on a Friday this year, making the holiday a nice 3-day weekend. In the area where I live and work there is a very large military presence, and many of my neighbors are officers and pilots who have spent more than one tour of duty in Iraq. Regardless of politics, these incredible people and their families are true heroes of our time and I'll be hanging out my flag this year with these fine people in mind.
Remember the sunscreen, the mosquito repellant and the importance of having - or being - a designated driver. Have a fun and safe summer!
Nancy Turskey, PHR
President, NRG HR Consulting
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