Sunday, June 16, 2024.

Happy Father’s Day 2024 to all the amazing dads out there. Keep up the good work!

I am a week into retirement, and it feels instead like it’s summer break, probably because for the vast majority of my life I have been either a student or a stay-at-home mom or a school employee. Life revolved around the school calendar.

Husband is still going to work, so I am home alone and sleeping in a bit. Feels like a typical summer, so far.

But here’s the cherry on the top of my June 2024: Summer vacation will never end, so to speak. I never have to think about returning to the job. I never have to look at the school calendar to plan trips, and I never have to feel disappointed that August is almost over. This is going to be an adjustment, true, but I am up to the challenge.

In a cocktail shaker, muddle 6 fresh pitted sweet cherries. Add 1 1/2 ounces bourbon, 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice, 1 1/2 ounces honey simple syrup, and 5 dashes chocolate bitters. Stir well. Pour into a glass with ice.