In winter I get up at night And dress by yellow candle-light. In summer quite the other way I have to go to bed by day. - Robert Louis Stevenson

List Friday, courtesy of Loretta, of Pomegranates and Paper

This week's theme: The harbingers of summer. Loretta requested five each of activities/drinks/foods. As usual, I played fast and loose with the rules.

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When I was a kid, my dad going out to buy the sand that went under the little pool he put up in our backyard is what signaled summer to me. We were allowed to play in the pool while it was filling up and for some reason, that was almost more fun than swimming in the already-full pool.

- The smell of hot, sun-baked inner tube, and chlorine
- Bubbles and sidewalk chalk and wiffle ball and games of jailbreak
- Not having to come home until the street lights come on
- Crickets and cicadas and the ding of the Mr Softee ice cream truck
- Purple cows drunk at the backyard picnic table
- Hot dogs on the little hibachi-like grill
- The purchase of a new pair of little white canvas Keds.


Now that I am an adult:

The city pools are filled and are open, and I can gaze at them longingly on my way to work. They always look so refreshing.

The porch furniture is scrubbed and set up, and the swing is let down.
The citronella candles are dug up out of the basement where they’ve been gathering dust.

Cocktails on the front porch before and/or after dinner are now a possibility.
And a probability.

I start wanting iced tea for breakfast rather than hot tea.
And frappucinos instead of hot lattes.
And bagels instead of oatmeal.
And popsicles for afternoon snack.

Our CSA begins. Asparagus and strawberries soon, then onto corn, peaches, raspberries, blueberries, and tomatoes.

The tables and chairs outside the coffee shop appear. The boys and I can sit there and wave hello to all the passing busses.

NO. MORE. SOCKS.
And flip-flops or Tevas for shoes.

I have to start shaving my legs regularly.

Having to turn on the ceiling fan for it to be cool enough at night to snuggle under the comforter – and it’s still cool enough at 6am to have to wear a long-sleeved shirt for my run, but warm enough that I take it off halfway through.

We start planning the Kennywood visit. Calloo callay, I am not pregnant this summer, so I can ride the rollercoasters! It’s not summer without a corndog, cotton candy, and a couple Thunderbolt rides.

And we may or may not be going to the beach this summer – but do you suppose if I dunked my arm in saltwater , let it dry, and then licked it, it would taste the same as it does after a day in the ocean and sun?