Our Members' Summer Memories
As the days grow longer and the air fills with the smell of fresh cut grass, many of us find ourselves reminiscing about summers past. Whether it’s casting a line into a peaceful lake, gathering around a crackling campfire, or simply soaking up the sun with friends and family, summertime has a special way of creating lasting memories. In this month’s feature, we invited some of our members to share those cherished moments that make summer truly unforgettable.
Ken, PACE Member at the Belle City Adult Day & Health Center
We asked Ken about his favorite summer memory. During his four-year stint in the Navy, Ken “flew halfway around the world and sailed the other half,” as he likes to say. Stationed in Hawaii, Ken, 60, went swimming in the Pacific Ocean. But when asked about his favorite summer memory, his thoughts turn to his hometown of Racine. Growing up on Lake Michigan, Ken’s favorite memories of summer include fishing, boating, horseback riding, campfires, and having a couple of drinks, here and there.
Mike, PACE Member at the Belle City Adult Day & Health Center
Growing up, Mike Roels’ life wasn’t filled with a lot of happy memories. Despite a rough childhood, when asked about his favorite summer memory, Mike thought back to the only family vacation that he could remember. Mike’s family drove to Tampa, Fla., to visit his grandma and spend a day at Walt Disney World, where Mike was hoping to ride some roller coasters. Along the way, Mike and his brother stirred up a bit of mischief that involved throwing a Halloween trick-or-treat pumpkin out the window of their moving car and it hit a police officer on a motorcycle. Well, as you might expect, Mike’s mom got a ticket. Obviously, she wasn’t happy about the situation and Mike almost didn’t get to go to Disney World. Thankfully, his grandma intervened, the trip was a go, and Mike got to ride the rollercoasters after all.
Mohammad, PACE Member at the Milwaukee Adult Day Center
Mohammad shared that he really loves summer and the warm long days. Mohammad recalled about a time in Florida where he was attending university. He remembers how outgoing everyone was and that he made lots of friends. He enjoyed the many lakes and beaches and recalled one of his favorite things was the fresh peanuts for sale. Mohammad smiled and remembered back then it was only a dollar!
Brenda, PACE Member at the Milwaukee Adult Day Center
Brenda loves doing anything outside during summer and her favorite memories always revolve around family outings. She talked about how important family is to her and how much she loved doing things with her brothers and sisters. Having family time was a priority and picnics were always a wonderful highlight!
David, PACE Member at the Waukesha Day Center
We caught up with David and asked about favorite activities and memories of summer! The center had a visit from some adorable baby goats that put David in great spirits. David loves that summer gives him more opportunities for walks and exercise. Summer reminds David of the wonderful experiences he had at a summer camp in Minocqua, in northern Wisconsin. David and his brother spent several summers as teenagers canoeing, swimming, fishing, and enjoying all the fun outdoor activities of camping. David especially remembers the camp fires at night which he said were always a blast!
Jack, PACE Member at the Waukesha Day Center
We also chatted with Jack, who had very similar thoughts on summer and said he loves to sit outside and enjoy the fresh air! Years ago Jack and his brother-in-law got plenty of fresh air fishing in upper Michigan. Jack’s eyes lit up and he got a big smile on his face when we talked about boating and how his brother-in-law would “zig and zag” the boat while they were off to the next fishing hole. Jack said he was very grateful for his brother-in-law and all the good times they had during those summers in northern Michigan.
This story is from the latest issue of our member newsletter, Connections. To read the rest of this issue and past issues, click here.
