SuMmEr TiMe

"Summer is where the girls go barefoot and their hearts are just as free as their toes."

Summer. The time of year where the days are longest and the nights are shortest. 3 months every child looks forward to and every teacher counts down to. I love summer. It is my favorite time of year, and not just because I get the months June, July, and August off. It helps, but it's not the sole reason. I have worked summer months, taken a full load of classes to complete a degree or 2, and had times where I never felt the warm sunshine on my face, being trapped in an office building. As a result, I appreciate these months, and take full advantage of this job perk! 

When I was young, I used to hate Las Vegas in the summer. There are times, in the midst of the blazing heat, that I wish I was somewhere else. The place I imagined to be the perfect summer place, a creation made by too many Lifetime movies, romance novels, and daydreaming during the months of January, February, and March.

In my head, I dreamed of sunsets, 

long walks on the beach...

a country porch, a hammock...

 sunflower fields, 

watermelon, 

lemonade...

a perfect setting...

The reality...I've never seen a summer like the one I described. The amazing thing is, I wouldn't change it for anything. It doesn't matter where your summer occurs, what matters is who your summer is with, that you made memories to last forever. What makes it special for me? Easy....

1. Freedom: how often as a grown up (ironically enough) do you have a time where you don't have to report to work on Monday, make sure the groceries are bought, the laundry finished, etc? We are constrained by "REAL LIFE"! 

2. Staying up late and sleeping in! My best memories are of late night summer. Mom and I used to stay up until all hours of the night, her on her couch and me on my couch. We would turn on Nick at Night and watch I Love Lucy, The Brady Bunch, Bewitched, etc, etc. There was the summer of reality shows...Fear Factor, I'm a Celebrity Get Me The Hell Out of Here, The Bachelor...the list was endless. We would giggle until my dad came out and separated us, sending us to bed. Slumber parties with my favorite friends were always the best. Pillow fights, prank calls, deciding each other's future with a good game of MASH, swimming until the neighbors complained, laughing until Dad had to come back in and yell at us. And of course, you can't forget the late nights with someone special. Lying side by side, holding hands, talking about anything/everything, kissing until your dizzy and allowing the summer to do it's important job...sparking love. 

3. The Vegas Heat! I'll eventually complain about it because it's what I do best, but when it comes down to it...I LOVE THE HEAT! Secretly, I love the fact that you have to make a mad dash from the lawn chair to the pool because the "cool" deck is like standing on hot coals, not leaving your house from 11 am until 6 pm because it is 110 degrees, and the 'not touch the seat belt' game...classic. 

4. Relaxation! Being lazy is something that we can't get away with all the time. But, I don't think that anyone can debate the feeling of complete and total relaxation. Summer allows you to leave your inhibitions behind. You don't have to worry about getting the dinner on the table at 5 pm...taking your time is key.


...I can see this list getting long...


5. A day at the pool, a cool shower, and a nap under the ceiling fan
6. A summer thunderstorm, getting caught in the rain
7. Sweet Tea
8. Sonic drive thru
9. Family time, vacation time, and learning to play again. 
10. Friends, hanging out by the pool, having a cold drink, laughing and lounging
11. Getting lost in a book, staying up all night because you have to finish that next chapter. 


Long story made short...I LOVE SUMMER.