Summer

I remember having a conversation the other day with some friends, during which we got on the subject of summer. And although I don't remember who said it (sorry, if you're reading this!) I do distinctly remember her saying that she does not see what the big deal about summer is. "I'm not a teacher," she said, "so it's not like I get summers off, and it's too hot anyway. I'm over it." She said that she enjoyed summer vacation as a kid, but now it's no big deal. And although I totally understand where she is coming from, I have to disagree.

Summer is so much more than time off from work and school. It's warm weather and longer days. It's leaving your windows open at night and waking up in the morning with the house full of fresh air. It's being able to have all your friends over at the same time because more people fit in your backyard than in your living room. It's delicious tomatoes, peppers and corn on the cob. It's fresh lemonade and iced tea. It's barbecued dinners and eating outside.

Summer is lazy days at the beach and falling asleep in the shade. It's running to the water's edge because the sand is too hot. It's sandcastles with moats and seaweed "grass". It's eating lunch on a blanket under a tree with the sunshine peeking through the leaves, making patterns on the ground. It's fireworks and ice cream trucks. It's volleyball and miniature golf. It's flip flops and shorts and no makeup.

Summer is a glass of wine (or two or three) on the deck while listening to a cricket serenade. It's beautiful sunsets and mild night air. It's playing outside until the lightning bugs come out (or the mosquitoes, whichever come first). It's nights full of fun after which you sometimes need to look at the photos to remember it all.

Summer may not mean vacation for me, but I still look forward to it every year. I still get excited, much like I did on the last day of class, just as the bell rang and I knew it was the beginning of two and a half months of no school. And even though at that exact moment I wasn't sure what I was going to do with myself, I knew it was going to be fun.