On top of the graduations and Hallmark holidays, we have a lot of summer birthdays in my (very large) family, a situation made much worse because some of us grew up and got married... in the summer. June is a big remember-a-card or send-a-gift or at least call month. It has always been this way. And yet, it comes as a complete surprise every year, catching me off guard and sending me into a remarkably unpleasant tizzy (just in time for my own birthday), and that's not nice.
But this summer, for the first time in my life, I am prepared. And I'm not just saying this because I get to put hotlinks in when I list the gifts. I bought my parents an emergency flashlight kit, so that they will not trip in the dark at their cottage this summer and use words that my children ought not (but often do) hear. I bought my partner a whole battery charging system for father's day, so that he can continue to workout on Wii in the morning and not fill a landfill with the proof of his efforts. And for my sister... the Evolve showerhead. (You will never guess where I bought these handy gadgets or how long it didn't take me... but I digress).
Here's why I love my sister's gift most of all: It is a brand new item that comes with its own set of memories. I won't prattle on about how a showerhead saves money or water, because that's not this family's story. Our story was the story of five kids getting ready for school, and one small hot water tank. There were two ways to insure that you got a hot shower. The first was to beat everyone else to the shower. This required setting an alarm and responding to it... Or ... and this is where early morning assaults came into play ... listening for the poor soul who set her alarm to come clamboring down the stairs from the attic... and then making a mad dash ahead of her to the shower. Truth is, this was very easy for me. I had the room closest to the bathroom, and my sister wasn't all that light on her feet.
The second way to insure that you got hot water was to fill a cup with cold water and stand just beyond the shower door, and heave it upon the head of the showering child. This is a startling experience sufficient to cut short the most leisurely shower, and make room for the next child, who slipped merrily under the hot water while the first showered slumped away angry and cold.
Some traditions need not be passed along. This is one. Enjoy your long, relaxing low flow hot showers, big sister.
Until I come visit.
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