Final answer:
The provided passages do not contain information about Anna Quindlen's childhood summer memories from her essay "Doing Nothing is Something". They are from various literary works, thus an accurate answer regarding Quindlen's recollections cannot be provided without the relevant text from her essay.
Step-by-step explanation:
The excerpt presented does not specifically detail Anna Quindlen's memories of her childhood summers from her essay "Doing Nothing is Something". Instead, the given passages appear to be from various literary works, each depicting different characters and scenarios that evoke themes of memory, nostalgia, and moments of contemplation. For example, one character reflects on a loved one's illness and the power of flowers to evoke longing for life, while another character broods over the unseen, spiritual remnants of a past event haunting a house. A third character struggles with acceptance and contemplation while taking solace in nature's restfulness.
Without the relevant text from Anna Quindlen's essay, discussing her specific childhood summer memories is not possible. Therefore, to provide a factually accurate answer about Quindlen's recollections, the correct essay would need to be referenced.