When I first set out on the Summer of Shanley the Sequel Tour last year, there were doubters. Could I make a sequel worthy of its predecessor? I could and I did. My time in Bermuda with my pals as they trained for the America’s Cup( GO USA…#Threepeat) was as the locals probably hate but Bermudaful, my month in South Africa making new friends, growing as a professional and person and seeing some of the most amazing sites was as cliche as it sounds, life changing and the time I got to spend at home between playing golf with my dad, hanging out with my mom, brothers, cousins and girlfriends was stuff dreams were made of.
So why on earth would I dare try to compete with LAST Summer? Why not leave well enough alone? Go out on top. I had a good, some might even say great run at this Summer of Shanley gig. Well, as I sit here waiting for my flight to not be delayed anymore watching a gentleman do laps around the waiting area and totally reminding me of my dad who does laps around our first floor when it’s either too hot or too cold to walk outside, I’m reminded of who I am, the lover of all things summer, the girl who never leaves well enough alone (sometimes to my own detriment), and the one always up for a challenge like this.
This summer, I will be hitting the beaches of a different Cape, standing up for dear friends at their wedding amongst the vines, finally fulfilling my younger girl dream of jumping off cliffs into the deep blue waters of Greece like in Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants with my own sisterhood, playing a few more rounds with my Dad, visiting family, spending some QT with GAS and returning to my favorite place in the world, Harbor Springs. I’m sure I left some things out, but there’s always time to update:)
Here’s to a THREEquel worthy of Return of the Jedi….Summer of Shanley Strikes Back!