Dog Days of Summer

The Long cold of winter has ended. Feet of snow is but a distant memory. Flowers and vegetables have been planted. Tree trimmed. And now it is just HOT. The Hot sticky that keeps you inside in the air conditioning. Do you leave the AC on, snuggle under a blanket on the couch, or turn it off and swelter with the fans on high?

They call them the dog days because it is too hot to do anything—lying in whatever coolness can be found, panting. But it's summer. There are beaches, camping, festivals, hiking trails, vacations, and more that must be done before the snow flies. Every weekend, there are at least 10 activities going on: friends' backyard BBQs, street fairs, outdoor dancing, beer gardens, and hiking, beaches, and festivals.

Summer is something to look forward to. The snow is gone. Winter coats are at the dry cleaners. Wool sweaters were lost to the back of the closet. Finally, we can leave the house without triple layers protecting against possible skin exposure. The fear of frostbite is gone. The polar vortex does not drain the car battery. Finally, we are not trapped inside by the weather. But then it is so hot outside.

Getting up early to walk the dog before the stickiness melts you to the sidewalk. Bouncing from shade spot to shade spot, hoping for a breeze. You could go to the lake, but then everyone is at the lake. The crowded lake is full of people, kids running, screaming, hot yelling parents, everyone with their blue tooth speaker out playing everyone else’s. And then there is the sand. Oh, the sand. Too hot to walk on. It gets into everything. In some places, sand should … not… be…, but somehow it gets there. But you are outside. You are enjoying the summer.

Or there is the AC, a blanket, and a book on the couch.

Street fairs, Ethnic festivals, Farmers markets, Outdoor concerts with picnics on the side of a hill. Backpacks, wagons, strollers, dogs on or off leashes. Sunburns, melting ice cream, and screaming babies. We go to get out. Be social. Experience new things. Pay too much for too little food. Fight the swarm and stand in line. Oh, the parking. There is never convenient parking. At any other time of year, the parking would be free and close to the destination. But now the streets are closed. Everyone is out, and it’s always a mile uphill for watered-down drinks and something deep-fried on a stick.

Or there is the AC, a blanket, and a book on the couch.

Backyard parties with friends are always fun. Spending the day with people you haven’t seen since last summer and can’t remember their names. Milling around, trying to make small talk while the beer warms up and the hot dogs get cold. Should you bring a dish to pass? Or that beer someone left after your BBQ that no one will drink. The cookies melt in the sun. How long has the potato salad been out? Is it rude to eat and leave? Oh, the drunk neighbor. The one that wasn’t invited but showed up anyway. The person can barely stand, screaming to turn up the music and knocking over the umbrella while doing the funky chicken.

Or there is the AC, a blanket, and a book on the couch.

Yet we spend months waiting for summer. Waiting for the snow to melt. Waiting to see the sun and be able to get outside. Waiting to put the shovels and snow blowers away. We long for the beach when the wind is howling, and frost covers the windows. We will get this done and do that as soon as summer comes. Just as soon as we can get outside and enjoy the yard, the garden, and all the flowers. Oh, the yard. We traded the show shovel for the garden spade. Winter gloves for hedge trimmers. Water the lawn to keep it green, then dodge heat stroke mowing it.

Or there is hot cocoa, a blanket, and a book on the couch.

Yes, these are the dog days of summer. And we wouldn’t give them up for anything.

What is your fav summer activity?  Please leave a comment.