Summer

Every season dresses the earth with unique beauty; the pungent spice of autumn, the crisp sparkle of winter, the earthy sensation of spring and the heady abundance of summer. Through each season, though, I am reminded of how the summer speaks in a love language that grips my soul and entices me beyond any other season. I am a summer girl.

Summer days begin with warmth and sated, heavy air. Pre-dawn lacks the coarseness of winter and bears a soft, fullness that encourages relaxation. The hiss of early morning sprinklers, the rat-tat of water tapping homes and sidewalks rides the heated blanket of air, sneaking a stacatto rhythm through open windows. Birds stretch their wings, chirping contentment and singing sweetness into the symphony of the day. The music of the morning mixes with the flavors and scents of waking up.

As the sun slides lazily over the mountains, painting a brilliant pink path across dark blue, it seeks to wake up sleepy flowers. Vibrant petals are tucked away at night ready to burst forth with the first morning kiss. The air is lazy and rolls to tickle and caress rather than sting and bite. Bunnys sprawled in the grass nibble quietly watching other animals either wake up or retreat for sleep. Movements are slow and unhurried.

The sun stretches fully over the top of the horizon and its rays are magnified by the deep green of manicured lawns and leafy trees. Colors become bright and saturated and the morning song bursts with a different, but wonderful beat; cars rumbling by on the way to work followed closely by childhood chatter and laughter. Bike tires kissing concrete are in tune with the high pitched buzz of mosquitoes, and the deep drone of bees flower hopping. The scream of a hawk adds a taste of percussion to the song and the constant prattle of crows blends with the chorus. Life is abundant and the joy is evident! Abundance brings a slower rhythm encouraging neighbors to smile and talk for a bit, not driven in by the shriek of old man winter. The day feels relaxed and languid even as the time-clock beckons.

The days are interrupted, on occassion, when the dark, banking clouds of a thunderstorm march through. The wind soldiers ahead shaking flowers and trees, yanking at ponytails and whipping through windows; strong but lacking the ferocity of a winter wind. Lightning cracks the sky, shooting the sizzle of electricty into the air. Thunder rolls with the cadence of a military band and the air sparks with the excitement of a summer storm. Raindrops jump from the clouds and begin their assault on the day; splashing on pavement, dousing flowers and trees and aiming for an unsuspecting eye or back of the neck. As with most summer storms it blazes through, soaking streets, sidewalks and lawns; chasing kids on bikes, walkers, runners, golfers and baseball players. Just as swiftly it rolls out, leaving behind cleaner, laden air, with a hint of ozone and electricity. Vegetation smiles and the edges of everything appear a little softer.

As the days end, evenings stretch out giving the illusion of more time! The sun stays longer, turning cheeks pink, limbs brown and hair lighter. The smell of dinner on the grill mixes with fresh mowed grass. Golf courses prosper, encouraging a round or two. Baseball complexes come alive with the sharp crack of a bat, cheers from spectators and players and the distinct spitting of sunflower seeds. Dust, sunscreen and bug spray tug at memories of bygone summers and towns grow as summer celebrations, parades and fairs beckon friends and family back to the heart. Parks are full of dogs playing fetch, frisbees, pick up games of basketball and the raucus sound of kids sliding down slides, playing catch and squeezing every ounce of sun out of the day. The sense of urgency has disappeared and everyone is content to savor every moment that the season brings!

When the sun finally pulls the last of its beauty behind the mountains, leaving a quiet trail of orange and red, the night quiets down. A stray laugh rolls on the air, a dog or two raises the twilight bark and a muted converstion carries from one window to another. The night stills and the day is complete. The fullness and abundance of a summer day closes its eyes leaving a trail of happiness, contentment and in my case speaking to my soul as no other season is able.