Day 8 musings

I am sitting on my back porch while I write this. The sun set a few hours ago- but it is still probably 80 degrees or more. Today was one of those particularly hot days. About 100 I think- but it's July in South Carolina. It would be a strange summer without a few of those around. I can't tell which is louder to me- the hum of the a/c unit or the cicada summer symphony. I wish the a/c would stop so I could just hear the warbling drone of odd bugs, but with my husband's desire to sleep without sweating- I doubt it will turn off anytime soon. We got to meet some friends at the pool for some dinner and a cool off, so my hair is still wet and that makes me cold inside. The sky isn't particularly clear- we had an ozone alert today, but there are still a few stars peeking through. Since it's been pretty dry, I don't smell anything particularly strongly. It just smells warm and comfortable. There's enough humidity to make it comfortable without feeling like I am wearing saran wrap.
I love summer. It is my favorite season. As much as I appreciate the structure and purpose that the school year brings to our schedule (after all the boys fight far more after sitting around watching crappy tv all day than when they haven't really seen each other)- I try to cherish each summer day and I dread it going away. Even living in Florida didn't satiate my summer obsession. It's such a unique combination of factors. I just love summer. I don't mind sweating, I adore fresh vegetables from my garden and others, I think the idea of sleeping outside is perfectly acceptable in 80 degree weather. Watermelon, water balloons, water parks- what other time of year do they shine? I used to think my love of summer was all tied up with my love of camp- and it is true it is one of the major selling points for me- but there are other parts of summer I have only gotten to enjoy while not working and playing my hardest for 18 hours and sleeping the other 6. Gardening is one of those things. Cookouts that don't involve 200 hamburgers is another. Enjoying a mojito or mint julep is another. Working on a model train set up with the boys is certainly novel. I don't dare start a list of summer things that I enjoyed at camp too- my blog posts are long enough without that! But whatever my situation, camp employed or not- I love summer. I think I just heard a bat! Maybe it will eat some of these mosquitoes- the A/c just turned off for a brief minute- I think I'll just sit and listen.