Hot Fun in the Summertime We asked our OSC congregation to "fill in the blank" to this question about their summer plans. Here is how they answered.

. . . taking Allison to meet her Arizona cousins, whom she has never met and I haven't seen for 12 years. — Lois Corman

... visiting. For summer, I like to visit: family far away, swimming (lakes, ocean), baseball parks (both Fenway and local pick-up games), concerts (rock n' roll, of course), and amusement parks. — George Delianides

. . . without a week of R&R at my family's compound on Shelter Island, NY. I've been going there since I was born, and for me the place grounds me to my history, my people, my family "of origin" as well as "of choice." Swapping news of cousins, aunts, parents, friends on porches tied together by the bonds of generations weaves me inextricably into a fabric of belonging. Every tree holds a memory. The sand dunes, the waves, the winds and osprey sing timeless songs about life, love, loss, and ultimately trust in the One who embraces all things and all time. — Read Sherman

. . . sharing the complete love with this incomplete world. — Xiao Wu

. . . a week at the Summer Institute for Theology & the Arts at Andover Newton. This summer I've signed up for two classes: "Writing on the Doorpost" with former Old South Artist in Residence Maren Tirabassi, and "Story Salve" with Valerie Tutson. Pray that my energy levels are sustained through what is always an intensive experience! I'm also hoping for a few weekend getaways, hopefully to Nantucket and Vermont, so that I can get back in touch with trees and mountains and cranberries and such. — Linda Jenkins

. . .a few good games at Fenway (hopefully wins); building sandcastles by the ocean with Zane, Pierce and Scott in Ocean Park, Maine; enjoying some interesting books; and watching my twin sister get married! — Pam Roberts

. . . enjoying an early morning cup of coffee and newspaper on the bench in front of the Hub on Main Street, Nantucket. — Steve Silver

. . . visiting my sister in Michigan and my brother in Virginia. — Amanda Nourse.

. . . meeting many of my relatives (and web page friends) out in the Pacific Northwest for the very first time as I mark my first birthday on my parent's wedding anniversary in August. — Amanda Grace Shu (a robust & cute 11 lbs +.)

. . . lots of reading and picnicking by the Charles on the Esplanade. Want to join me anyone? — Marjorie Wold.

. . . a special time in Maine spent with three longtime friends who come together from Boston, Kansas City and New York. — Margaret Bush.

. . . reading several good books, knitting a sweater for a grandchild, and vacationing with our grandchildren. — Linda Crawford.

. . . lying on green grass and listening to the breeze in the leaves. — Elizabeth Gilbert.

. . . — rather it will be complete, because we truly have been blessed this summer as my son, Michael Janis, and I will celebrate our first anniversary together as family. — Ruth Ricker.

. . . having a lazy, late afternoon float (or two or three) in Long Pond on Cape Cod during my vacation in early July. As I have discovered in the bathtub buoyancy is a beautiful thing when one is very pregnant. — Elisa Blanchard

. . . cotton candy and a ride on a ferris wheel — and a long, prayerful walk on a beach in Maine. — Lael Murphy.

. . going for a swim in the Green River on a hot July day! — Janice Graves.

. . . going to a Boston Park League baseball game (and waiting for the ice cream truck to come.) — Patrice Ficken.

. . . my husband Andy and me finding our dream house to buy (with fingers crossed as our house hunting begins.) — Laurie Stickels.

. . . seeing as many of my 8 great-grandchildren as I can. — Catherine Dauber.

. . . restful weekends in the New England mountains. — Jack Hodgkins

. a trip to the Presidentials, and a commitment to the walk from Crawford Notch to the summit of Mt. Washington. — Jim Crawford

. . . inviting 20,000 of my closest friends for a backyard picnic on July 4th with entertainment by the Boston Pops, and later, in July, a swim in Nantucket Sound — Larry Bowers.

. . . the (Susan) Thurston family reunion in Irvington, Alabama and Dauphin Island in Mobile Bay with Suze's father's family. — Ken Campbell.

. . . the Red Sox finding themselves out of the pennant race before Labor Day . . . sadly, again. — Russ Gregg [obviously born and bred in New England.]

. . . the Red Sox still in the pennant chase in late September, and even more amazingly, in October, the ultimate lifting of the curse named after me. —B. Ruth +