You think of summer as a time of relaxation. Remembering back to being kids and lazing around pools, staying up until the wee hours giggling with friends and playing basketball late at night in the driveway under the flood lights. Summers were easy, fun and carefree. Sleeping till noon, going days without a shower, the permanent smell of chlorine in your hair and on your skin…that was summer back in the day.
Now a days? Summer isn’t so special. There’s no vacations, just oppressive heat and constricting office wear while trudging from home to the metro to the office to the metro back to home. By the time you get into either office or home you’re sweat laden and sticky and cranky after dealing with tourists who don’t know where they’re going and somehow smell like they’ve forgotten the deodorant. I’m sorry but summers in DC? Not my cup o’ tea.
Even in college, I had the joys of being in classes, enjoying an urban summer unlike the ones of my rural youth. There were no classes on Friday’s so by Thursday afternoon everyone was relaxed, making plans and often times trying to fit a beach day or two in the three day weekend. Back in college the song “Summertime” by Kenny Chesney rang in my ears and always made me smile, especially when getting ready for a summery night out in cute skirts, flip flops, halter tops and the like…“it’s a smile, it’s a kiss, it’s a sip of wine it’s the summer time…” who can’t help but think of summer when they hear that?
I enjoyed summer times up until I became steadily employed in September 2006. I had enjoyed my temporary jobs that summer after graduation, the jobs that allowed to leave around 4, run home, change my clothes and make it back to the city for happy hour in summer clothes – short skirts and polos or cute summer dresses.
Then I got a job. I grew up. I had to, there were bills to pay. Student loans to deal with. None of this was unexpected but still, it was a harsh reality to face.
This summer, I’ve gotten my fair share of three day weekends, no trips to the beach however, no camping out on the non-existent front yard. Just working 9-6, getting out early on Friday’s and looking at the new bathing suit I just recently bought wishing I could give it more use. Summers will never be the same again. Take what you can – the roof deck bars, the cookouts with friends who have yards, and the day trips to beaches. Live for the days when you get off work early and can still make it to happy hour in a decent amount of time, the nights where you sit out on the stoop or enjoy a cold cider outside at the neighborhood bar.
Summers may have changed, after all I don’t think many of us get 3 months off out of the year anymore, but just because they changed, doesn’t mean we old foggies can’t enjoy them anymore. I mean, really? Who says enjoying summer is just for kids? Kids don’t get to enjoy the sweet sangria, or the roofdecks late at night overlooking the city or the joy of a happy hour outside. They can’t drive themselves to the beach, or work the barbecue, their summers are limited to the fun that their parents allot them. Us adults? We get to have all the fun.
