![Red touring motorcycle with chrome engine, windshield, saddlebags, and top case parked on pavement by a grassy area.”] ,](https://i0.wp.com/marshainthemiddle.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/harley-davidson-ultra-classic-electra-glide.webp?fit=580%2C387&ssl=1)
Latest update on Nigel: He’s walking, but it’s a struggle. Those muscles are just so weak right now. The good news is the Nurse Practitioner thought he was walking really well. I guess I was expecting a miracle. He’ll get there, though. But, it’s time for 10 on the 10th! I really do need to make these easier for myself! I’m probably going to really be stretching to come up with 10!
Here’s my list in no particular order. As always, I hope you give us all some context when you write yours!
- The smell of freshly mowed grass – When I was a kid, we had a really big yard, and my parents also owned a lake lot. At some point, Dad had intended to build a cottage there. Anyway, both of these places had to be mowed. And, Dad expected mowing to be done perfectly. To this day, I follow his rule…straight lines only! But, I digress. Luckily, I’m not allergic to grass so mowing is, for the most part, something I enjoy. I associate the smell of freshly mowed grass with that lake lot and, later, a lake cottage. When we lived up north, I loved mowing our big yard…that is until Nigel bought one of those funky zero turn mowers. My brain just couldn’t do it so I gave up mowing our yard except for those places that had to be mowed by the push mower.
- Later sunsets – I have reached the age when driving at night is a bit of a scary thing. On top of that, I have a baby cataract growing in my left eye. That makes oncoming headlights very blurry. With the later sunsets of summer, I don’t worry about being out later. And, there’s nothing better than sitting on the back porch, watching the kids in the neighborhood behind us playing and seeing the sun slowly sinking down.
- Thunderstorms – I do love a good thunderstorm as long as there aren’t any raging winds. The brilliant flash of lightning followed by the crack of loud thunder makes for one of those cozy nights. Thunderstorms during the day are just as nice, especially when the sky darkens appropriately. Again, I don’t want any excessive winds because tornadoes and such scare the bejeebers out of me!
- Rosebuds – You would think, given my maiden name is Rose, I would have had roses at each of our homes. But, you would be wrong. This is the first time I’ve ever had roses, and I love them. Usually, I’m watching each of those beautiful creamy white blossoms emerge from their buds. This year, however, they’re not doing that due to the overspray from weed killers. One of my bushes seems to be rallying, though. So, I’m hoping both come through this OK.
- The possibility of travel – In the past, we only traveled in the summer because I was teaching. When I was a kid, my mom started working when I was in fourth grade. That enabled our family to take family vacations far from home. Mom always waited until the week or two before school started so she had that much longer to anticipate the vacation! I even missed Freshman Orientation when I was going into high school. Before Mom got really sick, my whole family would travel with her. We went all over the eastern side of the Mississippi River. She loved to drive and would do most of the driving. I was always stuck in the back seat, squished between two car seats with unhappy toddlers. After Mom got sick, we only took one or two other family vacations before my kids got busy with their own lives…jobs, college, etc. Then, after they graduated from high school and left the nest, Nigel and I took lots of wonderful trips. I’m still anticipating travel…the reality is it probably will be Nigel-less. I can’t explain how bereft that makes me feel. I’m sure many of you understand that particular pain.
- Picnics – Again, going back to my childhood…my mom’s sisters, their families, Grandpa and Grandma Luderman, and our family had an annual picnic at Franke Park in Fort Wayne. This gem of a park was adjacent to the absolute best zoo in the country…the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo. I remember my Aunt Lou would get to the park extra early and stake a claim on the worn wooden picnic tables. When we all finally got there, the food would come out. There would be fried chicken (sometimes from KFC), all kinds of salads, chips, lots of raw veggies and cheese, and desserts. The only thing I really remember was Aunt Lou’s macaroni salad. That woman could cook and bake! She’s been gone a little over 12 years, and I still miss her. She was the mom I would have chosen when I was a dumb kid. Luckily, the good Lord knew I needed the mom I got!
- Boating – OK, this is a stretch. If I had my druthers, we would have a boat. There’s just something about floating on water, not necessarily going anywhere, either. We had an old row boat when we had the lake lot. When Dad bought the cottage, I’m pretty sure we upgraded the boat and gained a motor! I loved piloting that boat and riding over the wake behind us! I never could master the art of water skiing…not that that boat would have gone fast enough. Dad’s oldest sister, my Aunt June, had a lake cottage, a pontoon boat, and a speed boat. OK, her husband, Uncle Tiny, probably claimed they were his, but I thought of them as hers. I loved going out on that pontoon boat and just puttering around the lake. I did try to water ski once and only once!
- Flowers – I bet y’all were wondering when I was going to say that, weren’t you? Or, did you think the rosebud item covered the point? Nope, no way, not at all! I love flowers of any kind…even dandelions (when they’re in someone else’s yard). I haven’t planted any flowers from seeds for years now, but I may just give it a try next year. A friend of mine uses gallon jugs, cuts them almost all the way through so that there’s an opening, fills them with dirt, plants the seeds, waters them a bit, then seals them up, and puts them out beside her house…yes outside…in March! And, she has an amazing garden. I miss waiting to see the little green sprouts coming out of the ground. Yeah, I really need to do that next year. My back porch has lots of pots of flowers but I have a few more to move back there as soon as I get them planted!
- Motorcycle rides – When Mom died, I inherited a nice amount of money. One of the things we bought was a Harley Davidson from a teacher “friend” at school. Her husband was upgrading though I don’t know how he could possibly have had a better one than the one he sold to us. You can actually see it here. Nigel posted a photo of it there for some reason. After he broke his right arm, he decided he couldn’t really handle it anymore. That thing weighed over 750 pounds! When he bought it, the bike had about 5,000 miles on it. When he sold it eleven years later, it was close to 50,000! We rode so many backroads and highways. I loved riding on the back unless it was cold. Part of me would be warm, but most of me was freezing! We also had a 1976 Kawasaki KZ1000. After the kids came, Nigel sold it because he did ride a little crazily back then. It wasn’t near as comfortable as the Harley, but I was a whole lot younger and could stand to be on the back with just a little metal backrest! After selling the Harley, Nigel bought a Ural which is a sidecar motorcycle. He knew he wouldn’t have to balance as much. But, it was uncomfortable, loud, and just not as much fun as it looked. He sold it in 2022 or 2023. I wish we’d just converted the Harley to a tricycle because I know he’d still be riding it.
- Swinging – See, I told you this was going to be hard! I had to think long and hard, but I finally came up with my tenth one! I love to swing on school swing sets if they even exist anymore. I was spoiled by the big swing set we had when I was a kid. I would swing as high as I wanted because the legs were all cemented into the ground. You know how those aluminum ones will start to tip as you go higher? I never had that problem with our swing set. Before they closed Columbia Township, I would actually go over there and swing. It’s such an exhilarating feeling…sailing into the sky, knowing you were safe, and yet there was this feeling of flying. I hope you’ve all had the opportunity to swing like I used to do. I’m leaving now to look for a swing set!
Wrap it up, Marsha!
I honestly never think about how hard these will be when I come up with them. Sometimes, I’m doing them at the last minute though this one wasn’t one of those! And, as I got going, it wasn’t as hard as I thought…until I got to the last one! So, can we talk? How do you feel about thunderstorms? Do you mow your own yard? What’s your favorite picnic memory? Please leave a comment or two, and we can talk. I promise to respond as soon as possible.
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Maybe I should have tried the same and go back to vacation times as a kid instead of clumping it all under summer memories 😀
Thank you for sharing all of that with us, Marsha! I hadn’t you down as a biker lady, for example (the ex had a bike, but only for a very short time and I never rode with him).
Thanks, Cat! Definitely a biker lady…down to the Harley boots and coat! I still have the boots though they are terribly uncomfortable to walk in. Maybe that’s why those biker gangs are so mean…their feet hurt!
All the things I love! And you have no patience! Lol, that’s what they always telling me! Thanks for hosting Marsha.
Thanks, Nancy! I’m glad you love the same things!
Hopefully as he keeps walking those muscles with strengthen up and it will get easier and easier. This time of year I love the sun and greenery, we see so many more birds and all sorts of wildlife, I enjoy the slower pace and extra time to read, I love seeing all the flowers bloom and hearing the gentle tap of rain with summer showers. I don’t enjoy thunderstorms anymore though. They tend to bring far too much tree damage and power outages and just make me tense now. Mostly though I just LOVE the summer clothing and shoe choices so much more than sweaters and boots.
Thanks, Joanne! I’m hoping that happens. He just doesn’t want to do the exercises because they hurt. I tell him why do you think they say no pain, no gain! Oh, I’m betting the area around you is truly gorgeous! We are in the suburbs of Indianapolis and don’t get to see much wildlife though there has been a really big skunk lurking about as well as the plant eating bunnies! I can understand not liking thunderstorms if you lose power a lot. Hmmm…I think I like both seasons of clothes equally well.
I love all these summer things you mentioned. Flowers is at the top my list. Thanks for sharing insights into your perfect summer. Praying for quick healing for Nigel.
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Thank you, Kathrine! I was going to put flowers at the top, but I thought that was too obvious! Thank you for the prayers. They mean a lot.
Dear Marsha, as I do follow your blog a few month I have to suggest Nigel is your husband? Hope he will be alright soon.
Nice things to do in summer.
What I like most is the late sunset and the warming sun…and travelling to nice places. And I really like thunderstorms too, when they are not too heavy. We have booked a ferry for our travel to Greece/Peloppones from Venice to Patras in September…so we have a nice boat-ride. As we don´´`t have a motorbike we go cycling with our e-bikes.
Have a good time and all the best
Violetta
Thanks, Violetta! Yes, Nigel is my husband, but his real name is Mike. I call him Nigel after Nigel Barker, the photographer on America’s Next Top Model. I have always wanted to go to Greece and Venice! How wonderful to take a ferry there! We have thought about getting e-bikes, but it will be a while. Thanks so much for linking up!
Strongest agree: Thunderstorms (when you can watch from safe cover) – exciting and fun, a break from the sun
Strongest disagree: Freshly mown grass – the smell of coming allergy doom
Biggest surprise: Motorcycles – I had no idea you guys were bikers!
Good luck to you both as Nigel builds up his strength.
Thanks, Sally! My son would definitely agree with you about the grass. My allergies are mold and trees! If trees are doing anything, I’m in trouble. Oh, yeah, we love motorcycles. I even tried to find one that I could ride, but I’m just too short. We never rode with large groups, though.
Hi, Marsha. I just added #7 of my 10 on the 10th! This was a fun little exercise. ]
Have a wonderful week.
All the best.
Debra @ Life Captured
Thanks for linking up, Debra!
Wow…I would never have guessed that you’d buy a Harley…How fun.
OXOX
Jodie
Gurrrlll!!! I am just a basket of secrets! We had a blast on our Kawasaki when we were first married, but Mike sold it when Josh came along. Then, we waited a few decades before buying the Harley. My friend’s husband had it for sale, and I told Mike about it. He said he didn’t want it. About a week later, he asked me if I was serious. That’s when I knew he really wanted it. I loved riding on the back of it and the Kawasaki. The Ural was just noisy and uncomfortable. It looked cool, but it was not fun. At one point, we tried to find a Harley for me, but I could never touch the ground with both feet so I gave that up. I also realized I didn’t have to pay attention when riding piggyback!
Hi, Marsha – The first thing you came up with is a horror to me. Lol! I have to cover my face and run indoors and shut the doors and windows in order to escape horrible allergies from whatever freshly mown grass invisibly releases into the air. I can’t breathe it in at all. And after so many allergic reactions to it, I guess I have come to dread the smell of it. I’m so glad you can enjoy it. I am in awe when I see landscaping guys who mow grass every day and have no reaction whatsoever. I wish I was like that. You came up with a great set of 10. Thanks for the good read – Angie, http://www.yourtrueselfblog.com
Thanks, Angie! My youngest son is allergic to grass, too, but I don’t think he’s that bad. It’s a shame because it must be awful all season long as neighbors mow their yards, too. I’m so glad you enjoyed my 10 things. It was a bit harder as I got to the end, and then I remembered probably one of the best!
One step at a time! I tell my kids even if you put a toe forward you are moving so kudos to him.
This was fun I’ll join in and do it but I think I think I will do 10 things I love about this new season of almost being an empty nester.
Thanks, Kita! You are right, but it’s so hard to get him to do even that. I need to quit nagging, but I’m just a natural born nag! I’m so glad you join in on the 10 on the 10th!
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I will go backwards. We have a school playground behind our house with a swing so I think I will try to swing today to see if I can still do it. Eddie Otis will be like – “what”?
My Dad was a pilot with a motorcycle much like Tom Cruise and I rode in front of him when I was little. When he told me I was too tall and had to ride in back of him I was like, “I’m out”. It was a Kawasaki.
I can’t believe Nigel is already walking! I think PT can do a lot. I wonder if there is a swimming/water program that he could do?
I wouldn’t say no to travel. Tom’s mom is in a wheelchair and we took her to Germany. There might even be travel companies that specialize in helping someone who can’t walk a lot? You could take an older grandchild and Nigel could rest in the room/Airbnb for some of the activities?
You can rent a boat! You would have to have one of your sons accompany you, I think. It’s actually not that bad where I have looked at rental prices.
Thanks, Amy! I will go backwards, too! We have the big Eagle Creek reservoir near us, and I think you can rent pontoons there. I know you can kayak because a guy in my bell choir is one of the guides. Oh, I’m not the one saying no…it’s Mike. He honestly didn’t like flying overseas before all this so I’m not surprised he doesn’t want to do it again. My docent friends are up for trips, though, but it’s still not quite the same. Last time we went through P/T, I had asked about water therapy. They didn’t have one, and the current one doesn’t either, but we could go to the Y and see what happens. He’s more worried about getting into the water. That is so cool about your dad. We had friends who had a little pomeranian that would ride on the tank of their motorcycle! I don’t know how he stayed put. Yes, go and swing! Eddie Otis will probably want to sit on your lap and swing, too!
I love thunderstorms, fresh mowed grass and sunsets too! The motorcycle surprised me! How fun! I’m glad Nigel is up and walking – I hope he’s feeling stronger soon!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Thanks, Jill! I think the motorcycle has surprised everyone! I still have my Harley boots, but I sold my leather jacket soon after we sold the motorcycle. I think we may still have Mike’s. I have to encourage him (sometimes in my teacher voice) to walk a little more every day. His muscles are revolting as they’ve been lazy for so long.
There’s something so hopeful about summer and all the opportunities it brings. I also smiled reading about your childhood picnics and motorcycle adventures—those kinds of memories stay with us forever. And yes, I’m right there with you on thunderstorms as long as they don’t come with tornado warnings!
Thank you, Laura! I agree that summer brings opportunities you can only have then as do the other seasons. I’m glad you enjoyed the stories of the picnics and our motorcycles. I hope you were safe Thursday night…I saw the Chicago area got hit pretty badly with storms.
My son would be so jealous of that motorcycle. He wants one so bad.
I never pictured you as somone who would be on a Harley but now that I think of it..yeah…that tracks! Ha!
I hate summer because of the heat but I do enjoy my wild roses and peonies blooming for about two weeks – I miss them for the rest of the summer and I always get sad when they are gone because then I know I have a long summer without anything pretty to look at – well, except my neighbor’s hanging flowers. They are gorgeous!
Summer thunderstorms are nice too. When we lived in a Valley for 18 years they were often non-events, with the exception of a few times, but when we moved back to a hillier area the storms were/are so much louder and fantastic. It is like we are closer to the sky here or something.
Hahaha!!! I love it…”that tracks!” We have had three motorcycles, but that one was my favorite. It was so heavy. One time, Mike dropped it, and I had to help him lift it. He was so embarrassed. But, most Harley riders say, “There are two kinds of riders. Those who drop their bikes, and those who just haven’t admitted it.” It truly was a gorgeous machine! The guy who owned it had every single piece of chrome that could be had put on it! I love peonies, but I just can’t grow them. My son has several as does my daughter. They’re special to them because Mom always had them. I love flowers so I have lots planted and on the back porch. Unfortunately, I can never get photos to turn out right back there. I need to investigate that.
As I’m writing this (Tuesday night), we just had the most intense and worst hailstorm ever! It honestly looked like piles of snow where the hailstones came down people’s downspouts! It’s supposed to be even worse tomorrow night.
You did it!! You thought of ten. Really enjoyed this. How fun to have put so many miles of backroads on your motorcycle. I would be terrified to ride one inner city, but we have some pretty country lanes that would be prime for motorcycle riding. I’m still hopeful. Nigel will recover to a point where he’s able to travel and be more active. Thankful he’s walking better. What a terribly long road this has been. I’m so sorry. I always loved to swing, too. Especially in college, when I was so homesick that I would get on a swing and wish I could sail through the sky back home again.
Thanks, Leslie! I’m trying to think if we ever rode inner city or not. I don’t think so. But, I was a pretty good spotter and even could help overcorrect a hard turn. I do miss riding on the back of it. I was the one who told him converting it to a tricycle was a waste of money. How I wish he’d done that because I know it would be a huge impetus for him to get back on his feet! It truly has been a long road, but we’re making progress. Of course, he has Drill Sergeant Marsha to make sure he does his exercises at home. Oh, it’s so nice to meet a fellow swinger…wait…that sounds wrong! It’s good to meet someone else who likes to swing on a swingset!