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  Suzanne Tobias  

Summer a great time to tackle the 'been meaning tos'

My daughter is a jotter. Faced with a blank sheet of paper and some nugget of thought, no matter how vague, Hannah will jot down a phrase, sentence, paragraph or novella.

So it didn't surprise me when, during a recent game of Crazy Eights, she proposed keeping a list of "Things We Want to Do This Summer."

Great idea. I grabbed a pen.

We had been talking about summery activities -- everything from making ice cream to seeing a drive-in movie -- so we started in.

"Go swimming," Hannah said. "A lot."

Swimming. Check.

"Water balloons. Popsicles. Oh, and Heavenly Sno!"

The list began with memories of summers past, all the things we love to do when the weather's warm and days are long: Ride bikes. Catch fireflies. Have a picnic. Climb the magnolia tree.

Then it evolved.

"You know what we should do?" I said. "Walk that bridge over Kellogg."

"Oh, yeah!" Hannah said. "I've wanted to do that for years!"

Yikes. The girl is 10. You'd think I would have granted that request by now, considering the pedestrian bridge is only a mile from our house. And it's free.

But over the years, the bridge has become a perennial "been meaning to." We pass it on our way to important destinations -- dance class, oil changes, Sam's Club -- and say, "Hey, there's that bridge. We should stop sometime."

We never have.

But there's something about early summer -- the promise of weeks without school or countless other activities -- that makes you think anything's possible. Even if you, unlike those lucky kids, don't get the whole season off.

So we added other "been meaning tos" to our list: Pick peaches in Conway Springs. Cheer on barrel racers at the Pretty Prairie rodeo. Watch candy being made at Cero's. See the rings of fire at the Keeper of the Plains.

"Clean the basement," I suggested.

"No," Hannah said. "This isn't that kind of list."

Our list grew to more than 40 items -- some for the kids (go-carts, fishing), some for me (pedicure, home tour). My husband wasn't around, but I expect he'll add a few things.

We posted the list, leaving room for additions -- because after all, there are 71 days until school starts again.

Plenty of time for "been meaning tos."

Reach Suzanne Perez Tobias at 316-268-6567 or stobias@wichitaeagle.com.