Short Stories From 10 Years Ago – June 9, 2004
Signs Of Summer
Short Stories From 10 Years Ago – June 9, 2004 – Our long hibernation is over. It’s safe to emerge from our homes and linger outdoors. It was thirty-two degrees today. Hot, humid and sticky. The green paradise that is a Canadian summer is upon us – the long winter sleep forgotten for a few precious months.
Summer isn’t here officially until June 21st but we don’t care – the trees are in full leaf and it’s time to celebrate. So how exactly do Canadians recognize summer? Well, it’s more an attitude than anything else. We put away, behind closed doors, all things “winter”.
We are lighter – we smile more – we laugh more – we congregate – we travel more – we open up summer cottages and get out of town on the week-ends – we dress differently. We really shine in the summer. These are the things that flourish during a Canadian summer and they’re everywhere:
Bare feet – summer sandals.
Brightly painted toenails & toe rings.
Convertibles down and sunroofs open.
Shorts – tank tops and Capri pants.
Homes with open windows and screen doors with music filtering through to the outdoors.
Flowers everywhere.
Lazy garden sprinklers.
Bare midriffs (there should be laws in effect here).
Bicycles – skateboards and roller bladers.
Restaurant patios crammed with patrons laughing and enjoying themselves.
Garden umbrellas.
People walking on the streets.
Outdoor painting to freshen up houses after a dull winter.
Window cleaning.
The sound of home renovations.
Window boxes overflowing with blooms.
Lawnmowers.
The smell of BBQ dinners.
Sail boats on the lake and early morning rowers.
People sauntering – not hurrying by with their heads bent to a winter wind.
Parks full of families and dogs.
Bright coloured clothing, stripes and polka dots.
Laughter.
Music.
Parades.
People sitting on front porches and chatting on street corners.
Baseball.
Canvas awnings.
Elections signs every fourth or fifth season.
Every year I vow to work less, during our all-too-brief Canadian summer. Perhaps this year I’ll honour that pledge. My fingers are crossed!
