MEITUS: Yes, we're having a Hulk of a summer

By Marty Meitus, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Friday, July 4, 2008

Graeter's Ice Cream

My summer has been a blockbuster, packed with the kind of adventure depicted in Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk and Wanted, where everyone's going around showing off their superior strength and inferior verbal skills.

"I'm going to get you, Iron Man." "No you're not. I'm going to get you. Then I'm going to take your girlfriend, Ms. Pencilpot, to the prom." And yes, I know her name isn't Pencilpot, but look at her - really, it should be.

Due to circumstances beyond my control, my annual sisters trip was pared down this year to one sister and short day trips. The other sister developed a bacterial disease and ended up in the hospital. We told her that if she lived, she could come next year.

Short of those thrilling day trips, here's the kind of action I've seen this summer:

* Physical: I had to take an aggressive stance against a stubborn dead bush in my garden. I fought long and hard, pushing and pulling, bashing it with a shovel, until those roots crumbled into wood chips. True, it wasn't up there with fighting those mean bad guys who want to take over the world, but I did have to worry about accidentally knocking out our sprinkler line. What's besting bad guys compared with telling someone in my family that I might have personally brought down his new grass seed?

* Mental: Then there was the excitement of having the Adult Formerly Known as the Teen return home from his job as camp counselor during "changeover." For the camp, changeover signals a new session. For his mother, it signals a new session of worry, even if it was only for one night.

After he stopped home, inhaled food and left with his friends, I stupidly thought he meant it when he said he'd be back early that evening. At 11:30, I was pacing. At midnight, I called, barking, "Where are you?" which I realize is uncool, but tough, tough.

When I heard his voice, I had that parental thing going on where you're relieved and ticked off all at the same time. For no reason, since I have no clue what time he goes to bed when he's at college during the year.

* Spiritual: OK, so you can view the Glenwood Springs Hot Pool any way you want.

I view it as the only place I could go late in the evening, wearing a bathing suit (which I never do in public), and pretend like I'm doing a Colorado thing, you know, like climbing a Fourteener. The night was mountain cool and it just felt so right.

I do, however, think that people get a little carried away with that pool in the daytime when it's 90 degrees outside. From a walkway, I watched a family, figuring the parents were telling their kids: "We're on vacation. This is why we came. Get in." A friend of mine noted that it's like watching a Bugs Bunny cartoon where Bugs finds himself bobbing around in the stew - just add carrots.

* Body and soul: I bought three pints of Graeter's Ice Cream at King Soopers. If you're from Cincinnati, 'nuff said.

When she's not eating Graeter's, Marty Meitus is the food editor. meitusm@RockyMountainNews.com