Publix’s New Summer Never Grows Up Commerical
It’s layer upon layer of summertime goodness given with a song that I can’t get out of my head.
Why does it pull out the kid in me? How about you? Does your inner child want to share in the fun depicted in this commercial?
First, let me say; I have no connection to Publix or their advertising firm.
Still, this commercial has struck a chord with me, and I hope it has brought up a few memories for you.
Indeed, I am trying to hold on to some childhood memories. In fact, I’ll turn seventy-five in November, so my aging brain worries me a bit. Furthermore, I can’t rely on how my parents’ brains aged as they died so young from lifestyle choices. Mother smoked and drank her way to cancer of her stomach and liver. She died at fifty-nine. Daddy died at fifty-four from antifreeze poisoning. Did he drink it on his own in a desperate attempt to overcome the withdrawal from drinking, or was it mixed with something and given to him? We will never know.
Escaping from home was a treasure in itself for me because of the abuse.
Certainly, our summertime escapes are cherished memories. We were with the siblings and cousins we loved as we explored the forty-acre wood and pasture land around our house.
We dammed up the creek and swang on vines to let loose over that dirty water.
Splash, it was so much fun. It was Georgia’s red clay, and it stuck to everything and smelled so earthy. The color of the water alone would send chills down the present-day mother’s spine. Sometimes we caught crawfish for bait to use in Lake Lanier.
It was a new lake.
For one thing, Buford Dam was opened in October of 1957, the year we moved there. It’s the largest lake in Georgia, with 692 miles of shoreline, and is approximately 160 feet deep at the dam. I heard divers tell of catfish as big as a man living in that area of the lake. Many houses, even cities, were flooded to create the lake and remained intact. It covers about 38,000 acres. It was formed by damming the Chattahoochee River, and it serves many purposes, flood control, power generation, and recreation. As a matter of fact, it supplies water for the city of Atlanta and the surrounding areas.
Several songs have been written about the river. One of my favorites is Allen Jackson’s Chattahoochee.
As a matter of fact, a new movie coming out soon titled “Lanier” will be based on the true story of one of the cities under the lake. Specifically, Oscarville and what happened around 1912 when whites drove out the blacks from this city. Surely, the people who committed such acts thought it was forgotten once it was flooded.
It is said that the large number of drownings that happen on the lake is because of the forests and other debris under the water. I watched a History Channel show in which William Shatner makes the lake seem scary, even haunted.
As kids, we explored the new lake and the islands nearby by boat.
Some of us would climb trees and dive from the limbs. As a daredevil and a tomboy, and a bit of a show-off, if I am being honest. I was the only female who would dare climb and jump.
I learned to swim in this lake when I was nine. The roads we traveled to get there were mostly dirt, gravel, or one-lane. I’ve heard them called pig paths. Admission was free when our parents managed to make the short drive to take us to the lake. The coolers of beer, cokes, and bologna probably took all their money. After our first trip or two, we knew we would have corn for supper.
People planted corn in fields next to the road without a fence. Our parents would pull over on the side of the road and open the hood and the trunk as if we had a car problem. Another person would go into the cornfield and take enough ears for our supper.
Someone realized the islands could be even more of a recreational destination if bridges linked them.
With this in mind, In 1974, Pinelsle Hotel opened with bridges connecting the chain of islands they offer camping, boating, golf, and horseback riding. A small water park opened in 1987. In 2018 the islands became a Margaritaville resort, and the theme park Lanier World opened.
While I like the idea of holding onto summertime’s carefree and joyful spirit, never growing up is not a reality.
Growing up and maturing are natural processes of life. As we age, we gain valuable experiences, knowledge, and wisdom that shape who we are and how we navigate the world.
But that doesn’t mean we must completely lose the essence of summertime. Or the childlike wonder and joy it brings. We can cherish the memories and lessons from those carefree moments. We can use them to add positivity and warmth to our lives as we move forward.
As a nonfiction writer, I write from my knowledge and experiences. My purpose is to share how I found peace and joy in my journey from victim to survivor. I write to offer hope to others who need encouragement.
Embracing a playful and lighthearted attitude can bring balance and happiness.
Do you play? I don’t mean pickleball or tennis or some other sport. Do you play with your grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews? Playing with children can bring out your inner child.
Remembering your summer days can bring a smile to your lips. Playing now can create new memories for you and those you play with.
In my 60s, I was helping my great-grandson climb trees.
I also showed him how to lay down and roll down a grassy hill. I was a kid again, not so much when I discovered that I could no longer catch fireflies or lightning bugs. Floaters in my eye prevent me from being able to see and catch them. Another age-related problem, but I did not let that keep me from playing and having fun in other ways. I hope I have added good memories for him as he grows up.
As a matter of fact, a few years ago, a trip to Lake Martin in Alabama was a chance to ride the waves behind the boat on a tube. Only my son was afraid I might lose some body parts and only let me ride on a “sofa” with two of my grandchildren. It wasn’t the ride I wanted, but it was still fun, and made new memories. For the record, I have no replacement parts to fly off. I am still all natural at seventy-four.
Then a little later, we stopped to watch diving from a cliff. Some of us got out of the boat to swim. My daughter-in-law saw me swimming a distance from the boat. She started yelling that I shouldn’t be that far away, get this, because I was old. She and my son think I should live on a cushion in a bubble. They nearly came unglued when I told them zip lining was on my bucket list.
How can we find a harmonious blend of responsible adulthood while still keeping the spirit of youth alive in our hearts?
We can do this by,
- embracing spontaneity,
- nurturing hobbies and interests that bring us joy,
- and appreciating the beauty of simple pleasures.
Life’s journey is about finding the right balance for yourself.
The right balance between growing up and staying connected to the child within.
But we must always remember the creator of all things, summer being one of them and you being another.
Ask God, what was His purpose for creating you?
Ask Him why you are experiencing whatever challenge keeps you from playing.
If you are stuck in some part of your life and keep hitting a wall, maybe it’s time to learn more about inner healing.
