Today marks the first day of summer– yea– so what! What this translates into:  an unending supply of dirty glasses, wet towels, empty cereal boxes, milk cartons with one inch of milk, no bread,  flip-flops in every size everywhere, cars coming and going, loud music, and did I mention — non stop eating. There is no escape, today also marks the day we go “free for all”.  What’s crazy about this “I can’t wait for summer phenomenon”?– We always start out thinking that this year will be different–  I’ll go to the beach more, I’ll sit outside and read a book, I’ll use the pool we pour hundreds of dollars worth of chemicals into.  Instead, we go outside to read a book; but we see weeds that need pulling, garbage cans that need washing or a deck that needs painting. We say we are going to the beach, but we find ourselves at Costco or Stop and Shop buying enough food to feed an army. Forget I said anything about the pool — I don’t want to get my hair wet anyway.

Remember what summer used to mean — no school, long days devoted to games (not video games either), lying around just talking to your friends, the sweet smell of fresh-cut grass, ice pops, bike riding, or how about  leaving the house in the morning and not returning till dinner.–  No phone calls to “just check in” either.  Where did it all go?  I guess we grew up and somehow lost the kid in us.

So, this summer — starting today — go outside, smell the grass, listen to the birds — ignore the weeds, the kids coming and going, and that stack of dirty dishes in the sink. (Maybe the loud music is too much to block out!) Oh, and on your way back in to start dinner, take that pile of wet towels!