low expectations

a few weeks ago, i made it a point to say to david "see, i have barely complained about the weather this summer!" he looked at me and said "yeah, i was noticing that. why?" and i explained to him my Theory of Low Expecations. I finally realized after living here for 6 years, that if i went into the summer NOT expecting a summer at all, then when the weather was good it was sorta like a remarkable and surprising bonus.  And it seemed to have worked for the most part, even in this summer that has not been a summer.  It has been such a particularly bad summer, that even david has bemoaned the lack of it, and on nice days (meaning no rain, and no need for a jacket) David makes it a point of saying "this counts as a summer day!"

This is Ruby's last summer before school begins. a 6 week countdown to the beginning of that childhood that is determined by the ringing of bells, and learning of lifeskills, and the eating in cafeterias, and the running out of the school at the end of the day seeking a freedom that is elusive when one is kept behind walls most of the day.  She is now 5, and to me it seems like such a young age to have to be constrained by school, but at the same time she is ready to learn, ready to spread her wings. I was hoping for a fantastic last summer for her, but money is tight and 6 weeks go by oh-so-fast. Between swim lessons, playdates, errands, daddy's work schedule and days that are total washouts, we have managed some day trips. Sometimes Ruby would like to stick around the house on beautiful days so she can work on her art, but I then give the speech about "when the weather is really bad you are going to wish for a day like this, and wonder WHY we stayed indoors....." and rally them for an adventure.

Last week, we had a glorious day with storm clouds closing in, so i packed the girls up and headed them off to Seacliff Beach.  It is a beach that we had never been to, and I knew it had some cool suff- like an old castle, and the smallest harbour in Scotland- to show the girls.  But in typical Scottish fashion, by the time we got there, the storm was coming in fast and all we managed was a few pictures (and tons of moaning about the wind) before we got back in the car. Upon our return home we found Dunbar still warm and sunny! we shouldn't have left home.... take THAT for raising your expectations!