What summer feels like

I think summer is my favorite season.  Christmas is most definitely my favorite holiday, but summer is by far my favorite time of year.

I vividly remember childhood summers spent in Ocean City, Maryland.  My parents reserved the same apartment each year and we spent 2 glorious weeks renting rafts, playing games in the nickel (yes, five cents!) arcades and walking on the boardwalk in bare feet.  Just thinking of the beach conjures up the very real taste of freshly popped Fisher's caramel popcorn and salty Thrasher's french fries sprinkled with malt vinegar.  I can smell Coppertone and ocean breezes.  I can hear the waves and the sound of the seagulls.  I can see the "footprints" left behind by sandpipers and sand crabs.

When my brother and I were still in elementary school, we took thick cotton thread and braided it to make "shark strings".   The idea was to tie the shark string around your ankle and when you went swimming in the ocean, it would protect you from harm (i.e. sharks!).  We put a towel on the boardwalk and sold shark strings to the tourists for a dollar.  That's how we made money to play in the arcade.

Later, my Dad owned a building in O.C. and we spent entire summers there.  I worked in an ice cream stand and got paid to sing in the church choir each Sunday (I got more if I attended both services!).   As a teenager, I put Sun-In on my hair and baby oil on my skin.  My friends and I baked to a deep, golden brown...something I'm sure I'll pay for later when my skin turns to leather.  There wasn't a worry about SPF then.  We learned how to skim board and body surf and play putt-putt golf.  We walked on the beach with our dog and my Dad would fish in the surf.

I love thinking of those times.  I am blessed that my memories fill all the senses.

Now the lake is closer than the ocean and my husband (who spent his childhood on a beach in Florida) actually prefers the lake.  So when we get the chance, we rent a place that has a dock, pontoon boat and a beautiful view.  Our summers aren't complete without taking in a Braves game or two, eating cold, crisp watermelon and baking fresh peach cobbler.  Good books are mandatory as are card games and dominoes. I  play tennis and Mike plays golf.  Summer flies by.

There's so much more I could say about what summer feels like to me, but here's a picture that says it all.

This year perhaps summer will slow down a bit.  That's my wish anyway.