My summer is a patchwork quilt
Summer magic can be experienced in both the exciting events and the simplest routines
My living room turned into a crochet workshop over the summer. Balls of yarn piled up on the couch, crochet hooks were scattered across the coffee table, and half-finished projects took up more space than I’d like to admit.
What started as a hobby quickly turned into hours of experimenting with tapestry crochet, stuffed animals, and keychains that I ended up selling in my small business.
But my summer wasn’t all yarn and hooks. How could I say no to visiting the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE)? Among all its activities, the Sky Ride was my favourite part. As I dangled on top of the ride, the whole midway stretched out beneath me. The scene of flashing lights, food stalls and the chaos of other rides stirred a special feeling in my heart.
And of course, I couldn’t miss the fair games. I was manifesting luck with the saying from The Hunger Games, “May the odds be ever in your favour.” Well, the odds weren’t in mine most of the time. But winning or losing didn’t matter. The fun was in trying and laughing at how rigged those games were.
I left the CNE without a large stuffed animal, but with plenty of memories and way too much sugar from cotton candy.
Meanwhile, an unexpected highlight of this summer was a day trip in downtown Toronto. I spent the day wandering through Kensington Market with a friend and hopped through many vintage shops and food stalls. We stopped at a taco spot tucked in the corner of the street, and it turned out to be the best taco I’ve ever had in my life. Though the day was not filled with loud, extravagant activities, it was great to be a tourist in my own city.
The rest of the season was more mellow. I spent some time hanging out with friends and having hours-long conversations. Other times it was just me, an iced latte, and my yarn. These quiet days ended up being just as memorable as the bigger outings. There is something peaceful in not having the day planned and letting time move slowly.
Another routine I had grown to love is my summer late-night walks. I started the habit with the intention to hit my step count and burn a couple more calories. But most of them ended with me grabbing ice cream. Well, at least it increased my happiness level.
Upon reflection, this summer felt like a patchwork quilt. These patches of memories aren’t carefully coordinated, but they came together as a perfect quilt. From a crochet-filled living room to the Sky Ride and the world’s best tacos—this summer taught me that joy can be found in both the exciting and the ordinary.
