Summer 2024 is over, if you’ve headed back to school, or about over, if you listen to meteorologists. This week I wanted to reflect on some of the highlights that I’ve enjoyed — or plan to enjoy — before summer officially ends Sept. 22.
• visiting family
After a few years of texting and Zooming, I had the chance to meet my birth mom’s older sister, Barb, while we were in Maryland in June. We traveled there for my birth mom’s husband Steve’s memorial service, which was beautiful. I loved spending the week with my birth mom, Pat, and getting to know Aunt Barb, my cousin, Erin, and her daughter, Kalika, a little better. Having all these new family members continues to amaze and delight me.
• the Paris Olympics
I thoroughly enjoyed watching the Summer Games, from the opening ceremony (weird, but very French) to the closing ceremony and just about everything in between. (I’d go on, but I covered this topic extensively in last week’s column.)
• our Summer Days series
As we traveled around Hinsdale visiting various summer events and activities, I had the chance to cover the Fine Arts Festival and the Independence Day parade, visit the pool and spend part of a day at The Community House’s summer camps. I also enjoyed writing about the Hinsdale Public Library After Dark concert and will be at the Uniquely Thursdays finale tonight for the series’ last installment.
• reading great books
I thoroughly enjoyed “What You are Looking for is in the Library,” a novel about five different loosely-connected people who are influenced by their encounters with a rather odd librarian. The book, translated from Japanese, is very sweet without being too sappy — and made for perfect beach reading in Michigan.
• book club meetings
Speaking of books, I enjoyed attending book club gatherings — especially the one we had on a pontoon boat on Johnson’s Slough in Golfview Hills. We munched on tasty treats, chatted about the book and watched the sunset. What a lovely evening.
• vacationing in Saugatuck
After a very chilly visit in June 2023, we made sure to head back to our favorite vacation spot in July this year. We had beautiful weather for our visits to Oval Beach and enjoyed trying out some new restaurants, shopping and relaxing.
• adopting three rats
When Ainsley brought home three pet rats July 3, I did not anticipate having anything positive to say about them. Ever. But over the past seven weeks, I’ve grown rather fond of Petunia, Rosalie and Squeakers (my favorite). Once you get past their long and rather creepy tails, they are cute. And affectionate, believe it or not.
• cicadas
Like the rats, cicadas were not among the things I was expecting to enjoy this summer. Once they emerged, however, I found them rather fascinating. And a little gross. They did make dog walks more exciting and provided me with a column topic this summer. Those can be hard to come by.
• time with friends
This Saturday I’m heading to Edwardsville for a Sigma Kappa mini-reunion with eight of my sorority sisters, which means my face will hurt from laughing when I head home Sunday. And I hope to spend at least part of Labor Day weekend water skiing on Clinton Lake with my best friend.
• the IPA conference
Summer kicked off for me June 6 with a trip down to Bloomington for this annual event. Every year at this conference we learn new things and re-connect with our colleagues across the state. This year, for the fifth year in a row, we also were named the best nondaily newspaper of our size in the state. What a way to start the summer!
— Pamela Lannom is editor of The Hinsdalean. Readers
can email her at
