Here Comes Summer

by Gail Balentine

Remember all those times we complained about the wind, the snow, the cold, the freezing rain, and the sleet this past winter? Remember when we said we couldn’t wait for the sun to come out to keep us warm? Remember how much we longed to see things green again? Even while we’re sniffling and coughing from allergies and adapting to heat and humidity, we need to keep all those longings firmly in mind. No matter our age, there is a promise in the word summer, a promise filled with warmth, people, fresh fruit and vegetables, soft breezes that billow curtains, and relaxing days.

When we were kids, we so looked forward to summer, to being ‘let out’ of school and having no homework. Whoopee! It was wonderful to stay up later at night and then sleep a little later in the morning. So many ways to fill the days. Maybe we went to the beach, the zoo, or an amusement park if we were lucky. Somebody was likely to organize a picnic or a party or two. Fourth of July brought barbecues and fireworks. Some kids got to go to summer camps, by the lake, and maybe they learned how to sail a boat. And then there were the ice cream cones that New Englanders teach their children to consume from an early age, the ones that drip down onto your hands if you’re not quick to lick.

For us former kids, summer still means fun. It could be a vacation, planned during those depressing weeks in January or February, that brings time to spend with family or maybe the opportunity to visit a new place. Or fun may be outdoor concerts, boat trips, long walks, planting flowers that bring smiles just to look at them, or growing vegetables for the dining room table. Maybe a project or two gets done (or not). It’s a time we can put up our feet and read the newspaper start to end for a change, or a good book or two. Whichever way it is enjoyed, summer has a different feel, a more relaxed ‘vibe’ as we used to say. It’s a time to relish and refresh ourselves before fall arrives, followed by the holidays and winter. And oh yes … it’s not just kids walking away from those ice cream counters, licking their treats before they melt! 

Here comes summer--enjoy!