SC LIVING GUEST OPINION: Life’s a Beach by Shelley Murphy
Returning to the Nest Extra vacation time ahead for local students
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s a parent of two students, my calendar operates on the school year schedule with June as my year-end instead of December. This time of year, exhausted parents of school-age kids can attest that June trumps December’s parties, presents and pageantry. The close of the school year sparks a surge of year-end activities and puts parents in a panic to attend a plethora of classroom parties, sports banquets, award ceremonies and graduation celebrations. Weary parents finally crawling across the finish line into summer might be surprised to find an extra two weeks of vacation on this year’s school calendar. Students in the Capistrano Unified School District see their vacation jump from the traditional 10 weeks to 12 as a result of furlough days—students ended the school year earlier (June 11) and start the next school year later (September 9). CUSD students embarked on their summer vacations last week, but tomorrow marks the official onset of summer. The summer solstice on June 21 occurs when the sun reaches its furthest point from the equator providing the most hours of daylight, or our longest day of the year.
The extra sunshine signals the start of the summer season and signs pop-up in our neighborhood as my street converts to an obstacle course of basketball hoops, skateboard LIFE’S A BEACH ramps and lemonade By Shelley Murphy stands. While my younger son begins his vacation, my older son completed his freshman year of college last month and arrived home a few weeks ago to spend the summer. Navigating the road of young adulthood comes potholed with challenges, but so far his first summer home we’ve managed to compromise on most matters - except sleep. I anticipate my older son finding it difficult to adjust to the additional hours of daylight ahead. In the year since he graduated high school, he transformed into a creature of the night. The kid who enrolled in zero period at San Clemente High School for four solid years, and sat in a classroom with pen and paper ready to go when the bell rang at
6:40 a.m., now can’t seem to pry his head off the pillow before noon. His day begins when dusk falls. He spends his nights seeking out pool parties, sporting events, midnight movies, and avoiding garlic cloves and holy water. In his defense, he worked hard during his freshman year and after surviving fraternity rush and finals week, I’m happy to see him getting some much needed sleep. We’re both much more relaxed this month as compared to last June’s pomp and circumstance. A year ago when he graduated, I dissolved into a bundle of nerves. As his college departure date loomed closer, I became a basket case and convinced myself he’d never be home again. I marked every family occasion, including our “last” lunch at his favorite restaurant and our “last” night together at home—in hindsight, I may have overreacted just a bit. A year later, I’m happy to report the bird does fly home to the nest for summer. Especially if the nest is outfitted with their comfortable queen size bed, a bathroom shared with only one sibling and hot food that doesn’t resemble anything found in a
cafeteria meal plan. The prison-like conditions of a tiny dorm room also did wonders for his outlook. My son’s actually looking forward to our annual summer vacation—the same one he routinely moaned and groaned about being forced to endure against his will. Soon, I’ll be spending the extra two weeks of vacation with my boys while savoring sandy beaches, saltwater shores— and every moment. In the blink of an eye, summer will slip away and another school year will start bringing with it backbreaking schedules and heart-breaking goodbyes. Shelley Murphy has lived in San Clemente with her husband and two sons for the past 14 years. She’s a freelance writer and contributor to the SC Times since 2006. SC PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the SC Times provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the SC Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@sanclementetimes.com
FRIENDS FOUNDATION RAISING FUNDS WITH GOLF TOURNAMENT Event raises money for summertime recreational scholarships and sensory garden By Jim Shilander San Clemente Times
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he Friends of San Clemente Beaches, Parks and Recreation Foundation is looking for golf foursomes for their latest fundraiser. The foundation is hosting its third annual “Friends of San Clemente” golf tournament June 28 at San Clemente Municipal Golf Course. Board member John Dorey said funds from the event, which will include a number of contests at different holes, as well as a putting contest, will primarily go toward providing scholarships for needy children throughout the city to participate in recreational programs, as well as the city’s junior lifeguards, drama, dance and skateboarding programs. “We want to help underprivileged kids in town, kids at or near the poverty level, be able to have swimming lessons or be able to participate in the recreation programs the city puts on,” Dorey said. Dorey said funds would also go to the San Clemente Times June 20–26, 2013
Courtney’s SandCastle Foundation to help pay for second phase of construction of the playground at Vista Hermosa Sports Park, which will include a sensory garden filled with aromatic plants, a musical pathway and interactive water features. The Courtney’s SandCastle Foundation is attempting to raise funds to match the city’s own contributions for the project. Dorey said that while there will be a dinner and silent auction following the tournament, starting at 5:30 p.m., the foundation is still actively looking for golfers to populate the foursomes. That event begins with a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. The Foundation is also planning the second annual “Stoke-a-Rama” 14-and under surf event and 13th annual Skate Contest in September, as well as its annual Carnival Colossal & Expo in October. For information on the event, visit www.friendsofsanclemente.org, or call 949.276.8866 or 949.492.4036. SC
Members of the Friends of San Clemente Beaches Parks and Recreation Foundation and staff from the city’s recreation department in front of the “Friends” Meeting Room at the San Clemente Aquatic Center. Photo courtesy of Bill Thomas
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