Here comes Summer and Reflections

Well, as my Daddy used to say, Spring has sprung. And as summer rushes towards us like a freight train in the form of a heat wave, we are endeavoring to get the pool open and ready for the season. Before you know it, there will be 90° days when a dip in the pool is the only thing that seems to save you. All of the dead trees have been reborn on the hillsides in brilliant green topped by the dazzling blue sky. There are flowers everywhere. The world is a beautiful again!

When we were young It was the most exciting time of the year for us. It meant picnics and barbecues, rafting on the river, swimming in the lake, State Parks, going to the beach, drive-in movies, girls in bikinis, dancing In the sand, cruising on muggy nights, walking on the beach in the moonlight and a thousand other things lost to memory.

These days, without as much life to look forward to as we may have had when we were young, summer tends to be more of a period of relaxation and reflection. A time to heal from the wounds of the winter and once again find that time when “the living was easy”.

As I grow older I find that all of the seasons hold some sort of excitement for me, but summer is still the one that I hold most dear.

When I lived in Florida, it seemed to be summer all of the time and it was easy to lose touch with the reality of aging and time passing. I became a beach boy (or bum some would say) at 16 and lived this “endless summer” for most of my life. Now I live in the mountains and the change of seasons is not only dramatic but an ongoing reminder of the cycle of life. I feel to have reconnected with the world on many levels, however, I have, perhaps, bypassed an essential part of life’s journey. I don’t really know for sure!

Like Jimmy Buffett said ”I’m growing older but not up”.

So I suppose I will go check the chemicals in the pool and get ready for another exhausting ride in my floating lounge chair while working on my tan. It’s not exactly riding a long board in 8 foot swells, but it’s easier to read and not spill your beer in the process. Maybe next year I will look into going on tour with the “Seniors Semi-pro Suntan team“.

I always wanted to meet George Hamilton.