This year, I'm making my list at the end of the summer. Rather than using it to get excited, I'm going to use it as a reference - to warm me up over my months of hibernation.
This summer was all the things.
It was Saturday after Saturday of endless rounds of cocktails and laughter stretched across the patios of Chicago with my urban-family-who-is-family. One Saturday Boyfriend got so drunk he bought a cake that looked like a cheeseburger.
It was the fourth year running the Kuma's 5K with bonus hand-holding across the finish line with my sweet Panda who ran all the way from Hot-lanta. I couldn't have struggled through that nightmare hangover without her twice-as-long legs beside me.
I got to give my baby cousin the biggest hug just days before he proposed to his girlfriend. Five seconds ago he was a big-eared three year-old showing me how his computer game worked and now he's old.
A helicopter ride over a glowing downtown Chicago. Chicago is best seen from the water, but second best from the air.
There were bellies to rub, new babies to kiss, and birthdays you can count on fingers to celebrate.
It. was. BALLOONS.
A four day play-date with Baby Brother and Boyfriend complete with pokemon, legos, and skipping school to go to breakfast.
The bright-eyed beginning and the dancing-until-the-lights-come-up end of wedding planning.
Red rocks at the end of one plane ride. My favorite place at the end of the other.
Summer Olympics. Lake Michigan. Afternoons on the Porch. Our Batmanniversary.
Chicago Summer never does me wrong, and this one will keep me warm long into February.
