Summer Reflections

It's what? July 26th? REALLY? {Insert dramatic wide eyes here}

Yes, it is. More than halfway through the summer, and what have I done so far? A lil' bit of everything I suppose. Sweat, swim, stay up really late a few weekends, and indulge in a little libation here and there. And of course enjoy my Pirate games.

I like to reminisce of leisurely summer days of old, when the tips of my toes would find themselves dangling off the pool deck into the cool water. Or when I'd be munching on tea berries, lounging in my favorite patch of moss and staring blankly at the puffy white clouds in the sky. Or a lazy afternoon swinging on the porch swing. My Dad had ours hung under a massive grape vine arbor.

Summers as a child were particularly special when I was growing up. My Mom stayed home with us, and from the moment the sun was up we were out- riding our bikes, picking berries off in the woods somewhere, or out in the sand, playing with our Dukes of Hazzard cars. (I had Daisy's little white jeep.) I remember the sun, especially. It never seemed unbearably hot. It just felt so warm on my skin. I loved watching it set, it was a bright orange ball descending behind the lush green hills in the Pennsylvania country side.


We practically lived outside, even at night. We had a tent we pitched right in our back yard. We'd light a campfire, and it seemed we had hot dogs and mountain pies for dinner just about every night. We'd catch fire flies.

That's what summer was to me. Now, well... it's different. I go to work. I try to pack as much fun as I can into the weekends. I forgo housework. It's not quite the same, but I'm not complaining. It's just a fact of life, I suppose.

I pass a billboard on my way into the office every morning that reads "Expect everything out of life". I think it's for life-insurance. I guess I do expect everything, and occasionally that leads to dissatisfaction or frustration. When your and adult, your problems become more than worrying about running out of fudgesicles or having a flat tire on your bike.

So, especially during the summer, when the monotony of every day or the aggravations of life try to take over, I'll sit back. I'll close my eyes, envision that bright-orange sunset and smell the freshly cut summer grass. I know I can't physically relive those days. But I can always go back there, forever thankful that I have the memories.