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Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Top Ten Things I Love About Summer




It’s summer time and the livin’ is easy, to paraphrase the song. How do I love summer? Let me count the ways, paraphrasing Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

Sitting in my air-conditioned house while the temps outside hover near 100 has me thinking of all the ways I love summer. Of course, air-conditioning makes summer a tad more enjoyable. Here’s my David Letterman-inspired Top 10 List, in no particular order:

1.  More time to write. My TV shows are in reruns during the summer. I’m a TV junkie and I’m not afraid to admit it. A writer acquaintance once told me that to be successful at writing I’d have to give up all TV. She’s more successful than I so maybe she was right. However, I don’t see why I should give up something that gives me pleasure. TV watching allows me to relax my body and mind, and I get ideas for stories too.

2.  The sun. It shines in the summer. I live on the East Coast so the sun is a rare commodity most of the year. Yay, sun! I love that shining orb. Just seeing the sun in a cloudless sky lifts my mood. Sun makes people want to get out and do things and it improves their attitudes.

3.  The beach. Or Shore if you’re referring to New Jersey. I’ve lived most of my life a 90-minute drive to the Atlantic Ocean. The beach and ocean are a big part of summer here. I don’t get to the beach much nowadays, but I went to the Jersey Shore most summer weekends when I was in my twenties and thirties. Snooki, The Situation, and the rest of the “Jersey Shore” cast have nothing on me and my friends. Good times. Although I spent almost every weekend at the Shore in those days, I didn’t get tan. There are two reasons for that: I don’t tan no matter how hard I try; I was indoors, in the bars, most of the time. Like I said, good times.

4.  Tans. See above. Most people look healthier in the summer with their golden tans. I’m the exception.

5.  Clothes. I wear fewer of them in the summer. It’s so nice to get up in the morning and throw on a tank top and a pair of shorts and some sandals. In the winter I wear thermal tops under my long-sleeved shirts, sweatpants, socks, warm shoes, and a jacket. In the house. Our house is surrounded by mature trees so it’s always cool, actually cold, in the winter. It’s so much easier to dress in the summer.

6.  Sandals. Love them. I once helped launch a revolt where I worked because our company wouldn’t allow us to wear sandals and wanted us women to wear pantyhose and closed shoes all year round. Yuck. Our revolt was successful. The company never again tried to force us to wear pantyhose and closed shoes in the summer.

7.  Pedicures. My favorite toe color du-jour is green. I wear toe rings too. Sometimes I paint my toenails blue. Painting my toes bright colors and wearing toe rings help me feel a little bit edgy. I like the feeling.  

8.  Beer. I’m usually a wine drinker, but there’s nothing like an ice-cold brew on a hot day. Give me some fresh oysters and clams with that beer and I’m in summer heaven.

9.  Less people where I live. Most of my state’s population is in the southern part of the state at the beaches or at the Jersey Shore. I stay up north most of the summer. The roads up here are less crowded and so are the stores and restaurants. You can walk into almost any restaurant and be seated right away. Whereas in the winter, the most popular restaurants have long waits. In the summer, I get to try restaurants I can’t get into during the winter.

10.  Air-conditioning. I love the heat. I love the sun. But I sure do love my air-conditioning when things get too hot.

What don’t I like about summer? My list only has six items:

1.  Sweat. Not a ladylike thing.

2.  My hair. Those of you with curly hair always complain about frizz. I challenge you to have my hair--straight and flat with not an ounce of body. Want to know what happens to my hair in the summer? Within minutes of styling it, it falls flatter than the proverbial pancake. In fact, pancakes are fluffier than my hair. Next time you complain about your frizz or curls, remember this--it could be worse. You could have my hair.

3.  Humidity. We have lots of it here. It’s what makes us sweat and gives us bad hair days.

4.  Mosquitoes. Enough said.

5.  Swollen fingers. I can’t wear most of my rings because of the heat and humidity. I love rings and usually wear at least three on every hand. Now I’m down to one or two on each hand. Bummer.

6.  Food spoils faster. I keep an ice chest in my trunk during the summer. When I food shop, I put the frozen foods and perishables in the ice chest for the ride home. Even though I live fairly close to the supermarket, food spoils quickly in the heat. One of the few good things about winter is that I can go food shopping in the morning, store the food in my truck, stay out all day, and when I get home, the food is still cold and the frozen stuff still frozen.

Even the hottest summer is better than winter, in my opinion.

So, what do you like about summer? What don’t you like?


15 comments:

Adele Dubois said...

I love love love summer. Everything you said applies to my love for the warm weather, even when it's stifling hot. Hubby and I barbecue most nights of the week. Is there anything better than summer fruits and vegetables? I also love driving my convertible with the top down. I'm always sad when summer ends.

Best--Adele

Cara Marsi said...

Adele, thanks for commenting. You reminded me of summer fruits and veggies. There's nothing better than Jersey tomatoes and sweet Jersey corn. Looks like my top ten list went up by one. I'm always sad when summer ends too.

christine warner said...

I love the sunshine but not the heat and I love all the flowers, buying fresh fruits and veges at the farmers market and watching my flowers grow (although neither my hubs or I enjoy mowing the lawn...lol)

Great list!

Paris said...

If I could figure out how to have all of the lovely sunshine without the heat and humidity I'd probably love summer a lot more. I look like an Italian Shirley Temple this year, lol! Trust me, it is not a wonderful look:)

The fruits and veggies that are available are a definite plus so I just wear a hat when I'm shopping at the Farmer's Market:)

Harlie Williams said...

I live in Texas and I hate summer. Its too hot and the humidity will kill you.

I do love the water. We just got back from floating down the Comel River (near San Antonio) last weekend and we had a blast. I have to be near water in the summer or the A/C.

You would think that after living in Texas basically my whole life I would be used to the heat. Nope...as I get older, I just can't handle it as much. LOL!

Fall is my favorite season with the changing of the leaves and the cooler temps.

Great post Cara. :)

Marika

Becky Sue Burkheart said...

haha! Yeah. I love summer too. The heat is an issue, but I just deal with it.

Lynne Marshall said...

I'm spoiled. I live in So Cal the land of perpetual summer. My skin is crap because of the years in the sun. LOL. But - no mosquitoes where I live. I love eating dinner on our patio - minimal flies, too! I love cornflower blue skies without a single cloud in sight. I to love to take walks on balmy summer nights. I love that I don't need to put on my air conditioning until 2 pm most days! Did I mention I'm spoiled? Too bad California has gone broke, otherwise it really would be paradise out here.

Patricia said...

I love being able to leave the back doors open all day and listen to the birds and dogs and the random jet fly by. I like being able to read and write at the outdoor table, under the umbrella. I love to take walks at night when it's really warm and the sun has gone down. And, like you, it's so cool to be able to throw on a tank top and a pair of shorts and no shoes and walk around barefoot.
Patti

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

I'm a warm weather gal over cold weather any time. I love my flipflops. Hate cold feet. Love my t-shirts, not so much sweat shirts. Love long walks first thing in the morning in the summer. Yeah, won't be out if the temp is below 40.

Good post, girlfriend.

R. Ann Siracusa said...

Cara, nice post. I like the summer because the rest of the year I feel cold -- although I could do without the sweat part. But living in San Diego, I can't complain about the weather at any time of the year. Flip-flops are in year round. Ann

Cara Marsi said...

Thanks, everyone, for posting. It's fun to see your lists. I like the windows open too when it's not too hot. We don't like using our AC except on the hottest days. For those of you from California, I envy you. It must be great to have summer all year. The weather in San Diego is almost perfect, IMHO.

Autumn is a nice time of year, but the problem with fall is that winter follows.

Anonymous said...

Summer is usually when I feel the best...so I love it!!

Great idea to have a cooler in the trunk of your car!! I need to start doing that.

jean hart stewart said...

I second everything except the favaorite drink. Can't stand beer. Give ma vodka on the rocks anyday.

Cara Marsi said...

Thanks, Tess and Jean.

Tess, the cooler was my husband's idea, and it's worked very well.

Jean, I could handle a Stoli on the rocks on a hot day.

P.L. Parker said...

I have to agree with your assessments, being an avid TV watcher, doubt I could give it up. I love summer, but hate the mosquitoes as I am allergic to them and get big welts which last for itchy weeks. Fun post, Cara.

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