On columns that were never written - and summer magic

This is one of those columns that's been started and put aside so many times in the past several weeks that I honestly have no idea what the finished product will look like.

Initially, it included thoughts on the many fine young people from our community who participated in the Rotary Youth Talent Show - which I had the great pleasure of serving as emcee at this year. The outstanding musical, dance, and theatrical abilities of the youth here in Clinton County never fails to amaze me.

Although the show is 'old news' now, it's still appropriate to comment on the positive impression that was generated by the youthful singers, dancers, and musicians.

In a day and age when negative images of young people often gain national attention, it's important to remind ourselves that the number of 'good kids' far outweighs 'bad kids' - and often times even those so-called problem youth are dealing with situations in their home lives that require amazing fortitude just to survive.

Another original column item, as I recall, focused on a subject that is of great interest to many area residents this time of year - gardening. At that time I was highly optimistic about the beans and peas, spinach and radishes which I had gotten in earlier than usual, and was preparing to plant tomato and pepper plants.

What a difference a few weeks makes.

My 'early garden' became a bog when the monsoons swept through the area, rotting seeds in the ground and forcing me to replant everything. Of course, since I've planted for the second time, drying winds and a lack of moisture are shriveling the poor, scrawny tomato and pepper stalks - and the beans and peas still aren't up.

Adding insult to injury, either birds or rabbits decided that the flowers my mother and I planted are quite tasty - each bud has been neatly snapped and the remaining leaves chewed up. Even my rose bushes - which looked utterly beautiful all through the spring - suddenly showed signs of some insect's presence this past week.

It's enough to make anyone throw in the hoe.

A portion of what would have been last week's column dealt with Memorial Day and the annual observance at Mt. Rest Cemetery. After reading Dave Miller's letter to the editor, however, any commentary on my part would have been redundant - and not nearly as well put as the Mt. Rest sexton's.

The comments made by veterans on their experiences during service to their county, which Dave in turn shared with our readers, must have brought tears to the eyes of many people - they surely did to mine.

Perhaps it was because I, too, recall having talked to some of the same individuals and know what fine folks they were. Obviously, there's a story behind each and every flag that flies at Mt. Rest on special national holidays - thanks, Dave, for imparting a few.

Lastly - which is where this week's column was actually set to being - the end of school prompted memories of that magical time when I was young. There's nothing quite like summer vacation - at least not back in the 60s, and I surely hope that remains true today.

Being a country kid, much of the summer was spent outdoors. Swinging in the tree swing while reading a book; riding my sister's old bicycle (more often than not, down to the Forest Hill Store for ice cream dished out by Bertha Light); mowing the lawn and helping with chores (even to this day, I really do not care for chickens); and just goofing off in general - life was good, and very simple.

I remember one summer when it seemed like Ricky Hauser, Jimmy Gantz, and I spent every day in an apple tree down by the store, carving our initials in the soft wood and making plans for finding Indian burial mounds which we were convinced were located in a nearby woods.

Even though we came home empty-handed - not even an arrowhead - from several expeditions, I believe to this day that we could find them if we looked "just one more time."

There are plenty more images that drift through my mind of the magic of summer vacation - far too many for the space allowed here. We'll put the concept aside - again - and revisit it another time.

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For those readers who keep asking when the next County Road segment will run, never fear - Watertown has been visited and the article should appear next week. As expected, I found this lovely township in the county's 'southern tier' to be both complex and extraordinarily simple at the same time. Check back next week - you'll see what I mean.