I wonder how that worked out for her?
Happy Summer Solstice!
Do you remember being a kid and spending all year yearning for summer? Do you remember the bubbly feeling in your chest on the first really hot day? I still get that feeling. Yes, I work all summer just like everyone else who didn’t go into education, but there’s still something optimistic-feeling about the season.
I love so many things about it. I love the smell of sunscreen, the dzzting (made up word of the day) of bumble bees, the feel of the ocean on my skin, kayaking all weekend, wine at sunset, late-night thunderstorms. It all still fills me with optimism and, dare I say it, joy. Okay, sure, the subways are gross and people don’t wear enough deodorant or enough clothing and mosquitoes suck and I hate sweating through my clothes before I get to work and sometimes it’s too damned hot, but I don’t care. I will always be a summer kind of girl.
So today, I’m celebrating my favorite season with a stream-of-consciousness list of things I love that I associate with summer.
Classic Tree Swing by PegAndAwl
Childhood things:
- Tree swings
- Picnics at the beach
- Running through the sprinkler on the front lawn
- Sandcastles
- Mister Softee
- Spearmint Chapstick
- My grandma’s climbing roses
- Skipping
- Pool parties
- Drive-in movies
- Drinking from the hose
- Rainy days spent at the library
- Catching fireflies
- Sucking the nectar directly out of Mom’s azalea flowers (definitely not one of Mom’s favorite things)
- Spending the entire day in my bathing suit (How did we do that, by the way? Just the thought makes me itchy.)
- NO SCHOOL!!!!
We call this picture “Banana Bad I-Deer.” The nervy thing stuck her face in my drink before I could move it.
Adult things:
- Sangria
- More sangria
- Eating outside
- Fire Island Drag Invasion
- 3 AM living room dance parties
- Oysters at Ruby’s on the boardwalk in Coney Island
- Flip flops
- Banana Bad Ideas: Ripe bananas, vodka, chocolate syrup, & ice in a blender, ideally consumed on the beach. Even the deer love it! (See photo.)
- NYC LGBT Pride
- The smell of everyone’s grill going at once
- Shakespeare in the Park
- Kids playing in the flood on our street (That’s a Broad Channel thing, and it’s going to end when they start raising our street in a few weeks, but I’ll never forget it!)
- Guilty late-night slices from Cherry Grove Pizza
- Kayaking in Jamaica Bay
- Food concessions on the boardwalk in Rockaway
- The whiff of diesel as neighbors’ boats go by our kitchen window
- Wysteria
- Coney Island Mermaid Parade
- STILL NO SCHOOL!!!
What are your favorite summer things?
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My OBT 
June 21, 2015 at 7:14 am
I’m having to develop a new list of favourite summer things since relocating. For instance, I can’t have a summery jug of Pimm’s here (at least I’ve not seen it in PA yet) so I need a new summer alcoholic beverage. The places we used to love to visit in summer and the festivals and events we used to attend have to be replaced by new ones. This is only my second summer here so perhaps some sort of traditions will start to emerge.
One of my sons did yelp the other night that the arrival of fireflies in our garden meant it was officially summer. So o guess fireflies are on the list.
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June 21, 2015 at 11:58 am
It must be hard relocating. I never thought about seasonal faves, but of course they would have to change. I hope your new ones become as dear to you as the old ones did.
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June 21, 2015 at 8:15 am
As a kid, I loved to swim (all my good friends have pools) and ride my bike to the little neighborhood store to buy candy. I still remember that a quarter bought a big Hershey bar, a box of Good and Plenty and 5 Bazooka bubble gums. Those were the days. 🙂
As an adult…hmmm…well last night my husband and I sat on our little house stoop, sipped wine and talked. It was kinda old-geezerish but nice. We also go to the free summer concerts on the weekend where I have been known to get up and dance!!
Loved reading about all your memories!! – Karen
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June 21, 2015 at 12:00 pm
Thanks, Karen! I liked reading yours, too!
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June 21, 2015 at 8:53 am
Reblogged this on Benji's Photo Blog.
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June 21, 2015 at 9:32 am
My favorite summer memory was 4th of July in my hometown. A parade in the morning and fireworks at night book cased a day of fun and food.
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June 21, 2015 at 12:04 pm
That’s how my childhood fourth went, too. I loved it, but I love our new tradition of costumes and drag on the fourth even more!
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June 21, 2015 at 10:28 am
daughter born the night of the solstice xd
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June 21, 2015 at 12:07 pm
That’s a good fave!
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June 21, 2015 at 11:30 am
This is wonderful. Even though I live in FL, I was born and raised in NJ. I always kept that plastic bottle of Coppertone in the top drawer of my dresser so in the dead of winter, I could inhale that coconut fragrance and be transported to summer. Oh, to stay up after dark and catch fireflies and ride my bike up and down the street–when it was dark outside! There is nothing like summer to bring out the kid in anyone. Love all your ‘loves’ Donna.
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June 21, 2015 at 12:14 pm
Thanks! I love that you kept Coppertone around just to smell. Sounds like something I’d do!
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June 21, 2015 at 3:55 pm
Midnight rides on my pony with the adults.
Catching fireflies
Playing hide-n-seek
Playing kick-the-can
Sunday drives to Amish Country
Fishing with my dad
Showing my pony at 4-H Horse Shows
Coppertone without sunscreen
Homemade popsicles
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June 21, 2015 at 4:58 pm
What a great list!
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