WILL B.

Days of Summer

With Memorial Day having recently passed, and the Fourth of July quickly approaching, it is a time I look forward to each year. Things slow down substantially, both at work and in most other areas.

May is by far the busiest time of year for me. With all the school banquets, ceremonies, and senior shoots, I look forward to June for a bit of relief (not that I don’t enjoy all the business that comes with May).

I enjoy seeing all the hard work that gets put in all year by students and seeing it culminate in many celebrations and in graduation.

Then there is the hot summer weather. I really love summer, and I am fond of saying, “The hotter the summer, the better.” There is no better feeling than mowing the yard - or any number of outside activities on a 100-degree day and then walking into a house that is 70 degrees, taking a cold shower, and (maybe) cracking open an ice-cold beer. Planning things around the heat of the day gets creative, and sitting in the shade on a hot, lazy day is my idea of relaxing.

Sitting under an umbrella or shady spot while fishing is bliss, nodding off while relaxing, and every so often a breeze brushes by, fresh off the water.

The Fourth of July is the quintessential summer holiday. It happens in the evening most times, ice cold watermelon, lying on a blanket just waiting for the fireworks to begin their battle with the night sky, surrounded by family and friends. Does life get any better?

One of my favorite things to do in summer is go swimming, although in the past few summers, I have not been able to partake in this activity. As a kid, I remember it was the main attraction for my brothers and me. Some summers, it was a creek or pond, and some summers it would be the lake. There is something special about life’s simple pleasures, and jumping into the water on a 100-plus degree day is near the top of the list.

This is Will B. saying, “CANNONBALL!!!”