“School’s out for summer,”  is what I call the freedom anthem from “Shock Rock” artist Alice Cooper.  I’m so old I remember seeing him when he was Vincent Furnier and had a group named Nazz that evolved from The Spiders.   In the summer of 1972 when “School’s Out” was released, I was a Junior at Indiana University, and the lyrics expressed the joy of carefree summers away from the classroom.  To this day, it’s the first thing I think of when the school buses stop running.  I clearly remember the relief of leaving behind the books and tests, looking forward to a better next year, and ready for a summer of fun.  It’s a New Year’s Eve feeling, one that I experience every day now in retirement.

The buses stopped running today and summer has begun for Oregon kids, who may or may not be aware of Alice Cooper.  He’s now quickly approaching 70 years old, but still not retired.  I watched him do a radio interview here in Portland late last year, where he talked about taking his kids trick-or-treating.  “Imagine if you will, me wearing a scary mask, pulling it off to expose the more frightening Alice Cooper.”  I’m paraphrasing, but he still has a way of shocking people, even without his make-up.  He’s still a great athlete on the golf course, and an outstanding promoter, making the most of “What’s in a Name?” (Posts #136 and #137).

Today is my wife’s birthday, that actually started last night with a dinner at Holdfast.  It’s one of her favorite Portland restaurants, so it was an eventful way to celebrate her Birthday Eve and my Father’s Day.   I played a few versions of the birthday song this morning from my iPhone, and let her unwrap her first gift.  Birthday’s are a big deal for her, so I try my best to make them special.  Personally, I don’t care if I have another birthday celebration, since I’ve already achieved all of my Senior discounts.  It may be time for someone to offer an additional half-off for anyone over 70.  By the time you get to 90, everything should be free!

My wife has proclaimed that the first day of every week is “Meatless Monday.”  I’m not sure she put a lot of thought into the fact that her birthday could possibly fall on a Monday.  That’s why we did the “meat” of our dining last night, and plan to go to the Veggie Grill tonight.   Fortunately, ice cream and cake are still allowed on Monday, as long as they don’t include sausage.  The dogs would like that, since they will get to join us tonight on the outdoor patio.   They’ll have to settle for just plain ice cream, as well.

As I made my run early this morning, there were no kids on the street and very few dogs or moms, enjoying maybe an extra hour of sleep. Traffic was light and the sun was shining brightly.  I couldn’t help but think about the car I saw last week with a countdown to summer written on the back windows. (see Post #139)  I was sad to listen to a radio announcer tell me that only 50% of people will travel somewhere this summer.  It’s a shame that more people don’t take the opportunity to travel with their families.  It helps build memories that will last a lifetime. We’re on an airplane again this Saturday, so a week being a home-body will feel good.   It’s another great morning to be retired, and I can’t help but sing, “school’s out forever.”