Dear Winter

Dear Winter,

How are you doing? I hope your day is going well. I know that sometimes you get a little hot under the collar and it bothers you but I'm sure you'll figure out a way to make it colder again like you always do. It always makes me smile when the wind hits my eyes and forces them closed. The frozen tears on my eyelashes remind me of you and how much fun we have together.

Winter, I'll be honest, the last six months have been a whirlwind of excitement. You came into my life so unexpectedly back in October. I had no warning and then one day BAM! There you were, waiting with open arms and frosty breath. 10/25/13 will live in my mind as the day my life changed completely. I still can't believe it happened so fast. One day I was sweating to death and then the next morning there was frost on the ground and I could see my breath in brief clouds as I walked to work.

We had so much fun together. Your embrace was full and rich. You clung to the trees and you hugged the buildings with your strong white arms. Your tears covered the streets and sidewalks, making me ever conscious of your presence wherever I went. You even got me out of work for a couple days at the end of January. You knew I needed a break and worked your magic and we had so much fun on those lazy days, building snowmen and having snowball fights.

You didn't give up on me, even when I got tired of being with you. I would hide in my room next to my heater and yet you would climb in through the window and remind me of who you were. You persisted in being there for me. You were strong when I wasn't.

Winter, this is the part of the letter that pains me to write. Please don't hate me. You know how much I like you. We've spent so much time together these last few months. We've laughed and cried and sang and sighed together. It has been magical. We made a frozen wonderland of memories that I will never be able to erase. But, it's time.

It's time for you to let it go. I already have. I'm wearing shorts as often as possible. My flip-flops are dusted off and ready to be worn. My t-shirts have been cleaned and folded and are waiting to see the light of day. My pale arms and legs are yearning to see the sun, to feel the warm caress of Summer as her warm breezes blow across my face. I know you hate Summer so much, but you have to move on. This is the way it has to be. I can't say it any plainer than that. Please, you must go.

I like you Winter. I always will. But I don't like you in the same way you like me. Whatever we had together must become part of our past. I will remember you fondly and I will tell our stories and maybe someday, down the road, if you see me on the sidewalk, don't be afraid to say hi. I always enjoy our talks.

Goodbye Winter.

Here's to Summer: Part Twenty-Two

I am low on ideas for this series, but I have one or two good ideas left. I guess when this Summer series is over I'll begin work on my baseball series. But if you, dear reader, have any suggestions for more Summer installments, please let me know!

Reason Twenty-Two: Mowing the Lawn.

David, Mowing the Lawn is work. You have to work outside in the heat during the Summer. You can't possibly expect me to believe that Mowing the Lawn is a good reason to celebrate Summer. I'm not that dumb.

But Mowing the Lawn is so rewarding! You can see what needs to be done before you begin the task and you can look back at what you accomplished when you are done!

David, be reasonable. You have to haul the heavy mower out of storage and make sure it's clean enough to even run. You have to spend money to put gas in it. You have to check the oil and the air filter. And then you have to throw your entire shoulder out in the process of starting it. Mowing the Lawn is not a reason to celebrate Summer. 

But think of all the benefits! 1) Cardio. Everybody can use a good cardio workout now and then. And Mowing the Lawn combines arms, legs, and back muscles in a workout that is productive and profitable. 2) The result. Your lawn looks nice and cared for, unlike neighbor Steve next door who own three lawn mowers that all seem to have a critical engine piece missing. 3) The avenue to teach. Once your kids get old enough you can teach them to mow the lawn and they will learn good work ethics and excellent habits.

David, all these reasons seem good but I'm still not convinced. 

Have you ever stepped outside after that grass is cut? You smell the life of Summer in the air. The air smells almost alive in a way. The bright shades of green make pretty patterns on the front lawn and you can almost see the market value on your home increasing.

Plus, after you get done, you can go to Sonic and get an ice cold Cherry Limeade and then sit in a lawn chair and look at your beautiful lawn.

*sip*

Here's to Summer. 

Here's to Summer: Part Twenty-One

Twenty-one reasons to celebrate Summer! This series is legally an adult!

Reason Twenty-one: The Fourth of July.

The Fourth of July comes right in the middle of Summer. By this time you are used to the Warm Nights and the Sunshine and The Fourth of July comes as a welcome reason to celebrate both of those reasons.

The Fourth of July marks the birth of our great nation. A day to celebrate what makes the United States such a wonderful nation to live in. Hot Dogs, Ice Cream, Grilling, fireworks, food, friends, and patriotism all combine to make The Fourth of July one of the best holidays of the Summer.

The day will be pretty hot and everyone will worry because the warm weather means there will be hazardous conditions when setting off fireworks later in the day. Then the evening comes and everyone will stuff themselves full of good food and cold lemonade and set off their own fireworks.

Once they exhaust their own stash of explodables, they will pile into the car and drive down to the river or downtown or the amusement park to watch more fireworks.

There will be accidents and hazardous dead grass fires and people with burn marks on their hands and faces the next day. But that's because it's America! We do stupid things and pay for it later.

Happy Twenty-one little blog series. Don't blow yourself up this year during The Fourth of July.

Here's to Summer.

Here's to Summer: Part Twenty

Wow! Twenty reasons to celebrate Summer! That's pretty great! Well, here goes!

Reason Twenty: Bike Riding.

Bike Riding is such a Summer activity. I can remember riding my bike all over creation. We lived across the street from a small park until I was ten years old, and my siblings and I would ride our bikes all over that park.

Then one day my parents took me to the store and bought me a full-size 21 speed bicycle. I can remember putting it together in my parents living room and then rolling it out the front door. It was fire engine red with white racing stripes and studded tires, "suitable for both pavement and off-road terrain." It was bigger than my old bike and didn't need training wheels. I was ready for the big time.

I opened up those 21 speeds and started flying down the street. Paused for the stop sign, then tore off again. The wind in my face, bugs in my mouth, I had reached the breakneck speed of approximately 8mph when my front wheel started wobbling. No big deal. I decided simply to slowly grasp the brake and slow down to regain control.

Only I grasped with my left hand, not my right. And because my bike was brand new, the brakes were very touchy. So the front wheel brake worked very well and stopped the momentum of the bicycle completely.

My momentum continued, however, and I flew over the handlebars and descended gracefully to the pavement. (I feel like I've told this story on my blog once before? If that is the case I apologize to the three people who have already read this story)

My face suffered a nasty scrape and my bike suffered a few dents and my pride suffered a little as well. But I learned my lesson! Squeeze the right brake slowly, instead of the left brake.

To Summer, Bike Riding, and all the wonderful joys that come with it.

Here's to Summer. 

Here's to Summer: Part Nineteen

Today's reason is very special to me.

Reason Nineteen: Camp.

Summer is the time when people go to Camp. Teenagers pile into buses and vans and ride for hours to expansive campsites. They divide up into smaller groups and spend five days living in a cabin in the woods and enjoying the great outdoors.

For parents, Camp is a great way to get some extra rest during a week of the Summer. Send the kids to camp and enjoy some quiet for about 120 hours. The kids will be fine, and the camp will call if there's a dire emergency, but the odds of that happening are highly unlikely.

For kids, Camp is great way to spend a week of the Summer. Who doesn't love 14 hours bus rides? And when you get to the campsite there are a bunch of new friends to possibly make in the next five days.

For girls, Camp is a good time to share quality time with that bestbest friend, or to discover that you hate spiders and snakes, or to spend all your money on T-shirts and food.

For guys, Camp is a good time to get some exercise, or to meet girls and get their numbers, or go swimming, or meet girls, or talk to girls, or meet girls.

Camp is what you make of it. You can have fun or you can hate it, but whatever your experience is, it will be a direct result of the choices you make throughout the week.

One more thing: Camp is a great place to meet people. I met some one there once when I worked as a counselor. I didn't think much of it, only that she was nice and sweet and godly. But later in my life I realized that she was all of that, and a whole lot more. And I've known her for two years as of yesterday.

Camp is a very, very good thing.

Here's to Summer.