Sunday, May 18, 2008

summer in the air

Thursday, Friday and yesterday were cloudy days, Friday downright cool for this part of the country, and we had a little much-needed rain. Spotty. Not enough rain, just a little. Still, a bit. Today however was the first taste of summer. It was clear and warm and felt like summer vacation. I think that was helped by the various graduation parties held through our neighborhood. There were lots of families celebrating, and cooking out and being outside. It was nice, and it really seemed to start the summer for me. OK, yes, I still have to go back to work tomorrow, and Tuesday, and... but this is the last week before summer break. Memorial Day, and the "official" kick-off for summer is so close you can taste it. You can hear it in the ice-cream trucks, making their rounds... Well, sort of, anyway. One of the ones we heard today was playing tinny Christmas Carols, so out of place that we listened for a bit, knowing the song was familiar and trying to recognize it. We laughed when we finally did recognize the tune.

I like to sit outside on the porch, watching the sprinkler and moving it now and again on evenings like these. Raine likes it too, since she gets to ride her tricycle, or run up and down the sidewalk, or fight off dragons in her armor behind and armor befront. I like it as the air is cooling down, and the sun is setting, the neighborhood kids out playing and laughing. Its good. Even better? Its free AND good.

So yes, the heat is coming. Yes, the air conditioning will be SOOoooo sweet, and it won't be that long before it is. But now, the taste of summer fresh in the air, teasing you, is wonderful. And one of the best things about being a teacher? You get the students out of the buildings and on the buses. You turn your grades in. Then, you're out of the building heading for home, singing, "School's out for summer..."

No comments: