Most of my summer vacations as I grew up were sweet and simple and family-centered. They included playing tennis and reading and going to the city pool and on family trips. When I got older they also included part-time jobs so I could save up for college.
But the summer of 1988 was epic for me. And if I may speak for him, it was for my brother as well. That’s because we spent it living and working in New York City at magazines that participated in the American Society for Magazine Editors internship program. What an amazing opportunity to learn about our industry (we were both studying magazine journalism in college) and about ourselves.
I probably have more stories from that one summer than from all my other summers combined! The story told in these photos is one of new friends, warm sunshine and easy laughter. But most importantly for me, it’s a memory full of feelings of belonging.
Susan (on the far left in the left photo) was the older sister of a grade school classmate of ours. We found out that she was living in NYC, and motivated by the desire to have a connection with someone from our past in this vast newness around us, Phil and I called her. Rather than blow us off—which I think a lot of people might have done—Susan, her boyfriend and two of their friends made plans to pick us up on a Saturday morning and drive us out of the city for a day at Long Branch Beach on the Jersey Shore.
We had such a day—so fun and relaxing!
Some people just have a wonderful way about them. They make others feel like old, valued friends right away. And that’s a feeling that stays with you long after the sun goes down.
Product/technique notes
I created this page using patterns from the Crate Paper “The Pier” collection. The title is based on a Silhouette banner cut file to which I added the lettering. The flair is by American Crafts.
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