A Summer in Songs

Summer will soon be over and it'll be time to head back to Doha. In the meantime, I've been giving consideration to what this summer has meant to me and how there are songs that just seem to tell the story. It's been a busy summer so far with the ending of school, the trip home, teaching, learning, and some other really incredible things. So I'm going to try to summarize it using songs that tell the story.
As per usual, the end of school for me is never complete without Alice Cooper's timeless anthem School's Out.

Seriously, who among us that has a memory that goes back more than 20 years hasn't declared this song to be the official theme song of the last day of school? When the final bell rang and the kids left I was ready to run from the building celebrating the freedom that summer brought with it, but then came the realization that it may not be the wisest thing to do with temperatures in Doha hitting 125° F that week. We literally had birds sitting outside our window panting from the heat and enjoying the shade and cool breeze that leaks out of our windows. So I thought better of it and stayed put, instead focusing my energies on getting packed for departure. The temps in Doha definitely bring to mind the great song Summer in the City by the Lovin' Spoonful.

Arrival in the U.S. brought all the usual pleasantries. Family, friends, my pickup truck, sane driving, cooler weather, pork. Yeah. The important stuff. I spent a bit more time with Alice when my college class ended in early July, then it was time to shift into a mixed musical mode headed up by Styx and Mr. Roboto along with a dose of the Beach Boys (insert song here) as we headed west for a robotics conference and competition. Finishing second in the International Botball Tournament was a great way to send off some of our graduating seniors, and catching up with some friends we haven't seen in several years was awesome too. The side trip to Colorado has me recalling Joe Walsh's Rocky Mountain Way.

First time at that elevation had both of us sucking for air, especially with the ascent to 10,000 feet on a stopover on our way back to Denver, but my goodness what gorgeous country that is.

It was most definitely a summer highlight, but did not bring summer to an end. The west coast trip was to be followed up with a trip to Southwest Virginia where we had our first opportunity to meet our new sister-in-law and nephew. What a wonderful pair of additions to our family. And what trip that way wouldn't be complete without an event that brings to mind the great song Proud Mary (CCR or Ike and Tina, you choose) and a lazy day "rolling on the river"?
Nothing this summer can compare though to one of the greatest moments in our lives. There's something incredibly special about seeing your unborn son on an ultrasound for the first time. It's a true testament to the awesomeness of God who gives us life and I'm truly humbled that He's blessed us with our first child. When I try to come up with the song that does justice to this blessing all I can think of is How Great Thou Art.