Folks, you may have noticed that North Country This Week has been missing something for the past several months. 

My column, Editor’s Notebook, has been on hiatus as I was working in part-time fashion enjoying time with my youngest son Link, who was born in the fall.

I’d foolishly assumed that having three kids in the house wouldn’t be that different from two, but I found quickly the old saying about assumptions proved true.

Frequently when I write, I find myself focusing on time and how much of it we really don’t have. It’s a message I think is worth repeating.

Thanks to New York State’s Family Leave benefits I was able to enjoy some extended weekends for the past several months that allowed me to spend more of that precious commodity with my family for which I am most grateful.

While the weekend weather was dodgy this spring, we were fortunate to catch a few nice days recently. Like many people my age I don’t get to spend as much time with my parents as I’d like to, but on the eve of Father’s Day my older boys and I were able to have a sleep over at my parents house where we enjoyed a fire with my dad.

In my family sitting by the fire is the most highly regarded family activity. I believe that’s a universal truth for most, if not all of my kin, but I know for sure it’s true with the three generations present that night.

As always the boys were excited to roast marshmallows, but due to the last minute planning I’m notorious for and the fact mom and grandma weren’t with us, we were unprepared.

We rummaged through grandma’s stores to find a package that had survived from last fall, but found they were hard and stale. Initially I’d thrown them out, but after reflecting on my childhood days, it occurred to me that eating marshmallows was a secondary bonus rather than the main objective when it comes to campfire cuisine. 

I knew they actually just wanted to play in the fire and kids know roasting marshmallows is the best way to achieve that goal with parent approval.

It wasn’t long before the boys roasted the entire bag and proceeded to run through the classic campfire routines. They wrote their names with smoking sticks, “carefully” flung a few molten marshmallows into the woods and had some fun with flashlights.

And then they saw it, the path between the trees blinking with adventure as hundreds of fireflies lit up the grassy clearing and lightbulbs inside their heads.

After pointing out their discovery, the boys asked if they caught the fireflies in a jar, could they make a lantern with them? I told them to test the theory.

So back to the house we went to find a nearly depleted salsa jar which we quickly repurposed into a bonafide childhood magic maker.

At  first there was hesitation as they ventured into the dark a good distance from the safety of the fire and the adults, but together they braved on with jar in hand.

In the distance they laughed and strategized loudly as my father and I enjoyed the show.

We chatted about the changing times, the stars and important rites of passage we’d enjoyed growing up that the younger generations were missing out on.

After some time we heard an eruption of glee as the boys cheered at their success and returned with a jar that blinked on and off illuminating their faces with joy, wonder and pride with every flicker.

They relayed the tale of their triumph and watched the jar throughout the night enjoying  the magic they’d harnessed together. 

It was one of those nights that defines your childhood memories of summer. 

Those boys captured lightning in a bottle for dad and me that night. It was the most ‘Father’s Day’ day that I’ll probably ever have and one I’ll cherish to the end.

Summer’s underway and the days are already growing shorter.  In a world of ever-growing uncertainty and diminishing time for leisure, make sure you don’t miss out.

Enjoy the fireflies, the fires and the family while you can. You never have as much time as you think.

Jimmy Lawton is news editor of North Country This Week and NorthCountryNow.com