Don't Take Me Seriously - Book - Page 104
Only 10 more days of summer left, enjoy them
I
crying “beach, beach, beach
hate to break it to you,
— ice cream, ice cream, ice
but you’ve only got 10
cream.”
more days of summer.
And, it is also true that,
Yup, it’s only June 11, but
we’ll be rushing toward win- astronomywise, “official”
summer
ter after
on the top
June 21.
half of
“But
the planI just
et lasts
scraped
from
the rust
June 21
off the
until
barbecue
Sept. 22.
grill,”
But
you
DON’T TAKE ME SERIOUSLY
that’s on
whine.
paper.
Well,
I’m here to tell ya summer
slap them burgers on now,
doesn’t start on June 21 — it
brother, because soon the
rains will come and turn that ends then.
I’m talking about summer
gadget orange again.
… in the mind.
… “To perceive is to sufIf you think about it —
fer.”
and now you will — sumNow, you might counter,
mer is really over as soon as
and I will admit, that meteothe days start getting shortrologists consider the sumer. And, unfortunately my
mer months in the northern
friends, that happens afhemisphere to be June, July
ter the summer solstice on
and August.
June 21.
But when has a weather
June 22 begins the long,
man ever been right?
sad decline.
And, for the next couple
… “Cry for the children.”
months at least, your shiftEver since the dark and
less, out-of-school kids will
meager days of last Decemtell you it’s summer, and
ber, you have been anticipatthey will push that agening the glory of summer. As
da as they wrap themselves
each week brought you anaround your sweaty ankles,
Jim
WALKER
other hint of extended daylight, a little bit of the crust
cracked off your soul and
dreams seeped in: dreams
of waves, bikinis and Beach
Boys tunes, cookouts, pools,
camping, waterskiing, outdoor concerts — and of late,
because you’re old — golfing.
And, finally, “summer”
is here. The Memorial Day
weekend kicked it off.
You’ve been relishing
hanging out in the warm
backyard for hours after
work, watching the Lakers games through the window, and losing track of time
because it doesn’t get fully dark until after 9 p.m. You
are only reminded, organically, that it is time to go in
— by the odd West Nile virus-carrying mosquito.
You’ve been relishing
the gentle glow that begins
around 4:30 a.m. and gradually increases, sneaking
through your eyelids, until the psychotic chirping of
birds drives you out of bed at
6:30 a.m.
You’ve been anticipating all the summer fun that,
well, you’ll never get around
to…
… because you’ve only got
10 more days.
After June 21, knowing
that each day is just a bit
shorter, has yet another piece
missing, is less of what it
could be … will just suck the
joy out of the whole thing.
Only 10 days left – and
cue the dirge.
… “Bring out yer dead.”
Now ye of boundless optimism and thick-skulled indifference will ward off the
insidious approach of the
death of days by hiding in a
corner with your eyes shut,
ears-fingered and your lips
blathering “nah-nah-nahnah.” You will fixate on visions of your upcoming family vacation.
But, when that vacation finally arrives, what will it really be? A week, maybe two
of sunburn, hangovers and
boat repair, followed by six
months of credit card bills? A
motor home trip to Yellowstone with the kids spreading measles the whole way?
A sad, futile grasp at some
happiness before the rest of
the work-year sucks you back
down the black hole?
(Insert sound of slap here)
… Well, OK … We all
need our life-carrots, our
reasons to continue the exercise. Bless you for having
yours.
But carry this with you:
Though summer is over
for YOU in 10 days, your
landscaping won’t figure it
out until November. This
means, as the days diminish, you’ll still be out there
with the machete and flame
thrower, gently cajoling your
lawn and hedges into tidiness.
… “The horror, the horror.”
Summer is over in 10 days
my friends. Enjoy it while
you can.
Jim Walker can be reached
at jwalker@the-signal.com.
His column reflects his own
views, not necessarily those
of The Signal.
