Every year I’m excited to buy new pairs of sunglasses. I forget to wear them, they break in my purse or they stay in my car. Either way, I love them. I could spend hours in stores trying on new pairs and taking pictures. I have done this. Do you have any favorite pairs?
Well it is definitely summer here over in Massachusetts. The tourists are creeping in, Route 3 is a disaster during the weekends and I can no longer sleep without my window air conditioner in my window.
I won’t say I hate summer, because that’s definitely not the fact. I actually sort of like it, the way we have it in Massachusetts, at least. The high heat and humid days don’t stretch on for too long, we have awesome thunderstorms and fire flies are pretty amazing. I like getting out of work, walking into the humidity and being glad I missed most of the sunlight and knowing that it’s still going to be warm and bright for a few more hours. I love the songs that feel like summer and driving around with my windows down. I love wearing flip flops and not having my toes freeze (because New Englanders wear flip flops in the winter, too. We also drink ICED coffee all year long and it’s never too cold for ice cream. In case you were wondering). And how can I forget about all of the amazing fresh fruit and vegetables that are in season right now? Summer doesn’t have my love like Autumn and Spring do, but that’s okay. It certainly doesn’t have my hate, either.
One thing that bothers me about summer really is what bothers me about growing up. We are conditioned to have a huge fantastic holiday right in the middle of our year. We spend at least twelve years relishing in the freedom of the summer holidays and now they are gone (unless you’re a teacher). One vacation week is never quite enough, because after two days back you’re yearning for another. Anywhere you might want to go during the summer is a nightmare during the only times you aren’t working. Because everyone else is off wanting ice cream and scrambling to catch some Vitamin D by the Atlantic.
Maybe the worst part is that I don’t have a pool. I just love water. Love it. And yet I hardly spend any time swimming any more. The beach is a pain to get to, the ponds are kind of dirty, over run with children and, quite frankly, it’s a little embarrassing to embark on a swimming adventure on your own.
So this is just a little message to the universe out there: when I’m a home owner, or a condo owner or I’ve decided to live in a tent in the woods, there’s go to be water.
Oh and also, I love fireflies.
What do you love or hate about summer?
Summer is less than a month away! I can’t express how excited I am for (more) constant sunshine, beach days and a surplus of vitamin D. I love summer nights and the way the air feels right after a thunderstorm.
Things I Want to Do This Summer:
Geocaching. I’ve never done it, but I know people who have. It sounds like a fun adventure!
Camping. I haven’t been camping in a really long time.
Beaching (&making sand castles)
Hanging out in caves (I don’t know, really. It just seems like it would be fun).
Concerts. There don’t seem to be any ones coming up that I want to see. Maybe I should look into that. No Hanson tour this summer. That’s a bummer.
Stargazing. I often look up at the sky and catch my breath in my throat because it’s so beautiful to look at.
Camp fires. My brother has those. I’ll probably crash his. Fireworks. Not necessarily on the 4th of July. Anytime lights in the sky are accompanied with popping sounds and overall excitement I want to be there.
Storm chasing. Okay maybe not really. But it’s always been one of those things I’ve thought about doing.
Drive In Movies. The one & only time I went to a drive in movie theater I saw Robots in Tulsa Oklahoma at the Admiral Twin Drive-In (Which is the same drive in that’s in The Outsiders). Haven’t read The Outsiders? What are you doing on this blog? Go read it now, it’s currently $4 at Amazon.
Take a dance class. I’m pretty sure I think/ talk about this every year. Maybe this summer it’ll stick. I miss dancing. And Zumba is fun but it’s definitely not the same.
Clean out everything. I just have too much stuff. I need to put aside time to get rid of some of it. I am working on it, but it’s definitely a very slow work in progress.
Go on a Whale Watch. Whales are cool .I haven’t been since seventh grade. So.. why not?
Honorable mentions (ie. I could probably just keep on going…): go to Provincetown, take a road trip, swim in a pool, go fishing, spend time in a boat, go to Six Flags or another amusement park, to to lots of Carnivals and fairs, go to the circus, King Richard’s Faire at the end of the summer, ride a motorcycle, go to Boston, learn to surf, walk around New York City, go to yard sales.
What would you like to do this summer?
My point, however, is that we still have a month of summer left to enjoy! It’s not to late to get that tan (or acquire a few more freckles and burns as it goes with my skin). Take a day off and go to the beach and plan a last minute camping trip. Here’s a list of things you can do to make the best of the remaining days of summer so that by the time fall comes you know that you lived your summer to the fullest.
* Catch fireflies in a jar (but don’t forget to let them go soon after!)
* Plan a beach day
* Go clam digging
* Call up a friend and spend a day at her pool (or invite one over to yours)
* Take a vacation day and just enjoy the sun
* Make homemade popsicles
* Lay outside at night and look at the stars
* Blow bubbles
* Use sidewalk chalk to express your inner artist
* Look up concerts playing in your area
* Make lemonade or sun tea
* Wear sunglasses everywhere
* Buy new bright colours for your bedroom
* Go on some sort of harbour cruise
* Take advantage of sales to go clothes shopping for next summer
What are your plans to reclaim summer?
<3. Melanie.Kristy
