Love Notes to a Husband Away That Good Ol’ Hardcore Summer

all pictures except the ones of Ned were taken BY Ned

My friend Molly and I created a group called: The Hardcore Summer: For Those Who Want More From Life: Carpe Diem. (I was clearly watching Dead Poet’s Society during this time.) There were two members: Molly and me. I don’t remember what we did other than wearing dresses during the MS Walk, but I’m sure whatever it was, it was pretty hardcore. Plus, Molly made me a t-shirt.

            Several summers later we included our one and only additional member: Ned Kimmel.

            In order for Ned to become a part of our elite club, he had to pass a hazing of sorts. We blindfolded him and put him in the backseat of my Mom’s car.

            We must have liked each other then because Ned allowed us to do this to him and, well, I allowed him in our club. It must be said that Molly was less inclined to allow Ned as a new member but must have relented when she saw how pathetic I was to let a boy into our club because I liked him. (She was already married).

            Originally, we talked about dumping Ned in a field and letting him find his way back home. It was probably me who vetoed the idea. (I was always too soft on him.)  What ended up happening was my terrible sense of direction got us all lost. I still have no idea where we went, but I am pretty sure that we were moments away from getting our tires blown out by a shotgun. Thankfully, we un-blindfolded Ned and he was able to get us home. Initiation passed!

            The first thing the HCSFTWWMFLCD, or HCS (for short) club did was get our ear cartilages pierced. Molly is the only one who still has this. Mine never healed correctly and Ned took his out because he didn’t want to come across as a trashy hoodlum to my father (another story).

         The second thing we did, on the very last day of summer, was hike to the old bridge. We recruited several more friends to go with us, most of which highly doubted my ability as a guide to get us to our destination. These days all you have to do is walk down the rails to trails and you’ll get to the bridge. Back then, however, the trails were just going in. Instead, we hiked down a steep hillside through the woods. There was one smallish accident on the trip in which someone tumbled down the hill.  Fortunately they were okay, though it didn’t help anyone trust my leadership. Eventually we made it to the river and fun was had by all. And many pictures were taken. And some people even got a little wet. The hike back was a great many more miles. Ned and I shyly flirted with one another and he even let me take pictures with his camera (true love).

            Everyone returned home more or less in one piece, and hoped and prayed that Molly, Ned, and my hardcoreness might rub off on them; just a little.

            This past summer Ned and I reinstated the hardcore club. I kicked off the summer (a little early) by birthing a baby. Ned joined another elite group in hopes of having many more hardcore summers. Here’s to lots more adventures over a lifetime of hardcore summers.