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Hello Everyone,

Still working on this one but I decided it was far enough along to use for this week's story.

Ours was the best - anchored into the garage and cemented into the ground. Our swing set made from four-inch metal pipe was super strong allowing us to rise as high as the clouds. Childhood imaginations run wild, don't they? And was it my imagination that my mom painted it with red and white stripes like a candy cane? I'll need to verify that one, but I think I see the masking tape going round and round in preparation. Sounds good even if it is not true.

How many hours did we spend just rocking back and forth with our feet never leaving the ground with motion sickness setting in on me. Our outdoor lounge to share our secrets, stories, and life. What profound things would preteens be discussing? No details come to mind today yet I am sure at the time they felt monumental.

Some of us are lucky enough to still have contact with a friend or two from our early days who still listen to our daily worries and events. They are also on call for any of life's emergencies.

One such friend sends me a cartoon of Charlie Brown, Snoopy and Woodstock with an umbrella over their heads. The caption suggests 'when a friend is going through a personal storm, cover them with love'. What a wonderful sentiment as sometimes feeling protected is what one needs most.

All the umbrellas that went up that summer afternoon in Sienna remind me of this sentiment - keeping each other safe and comforted. If only it was that easy, I would buy boxes and boxes of umbrellas and pass out to all who need one.