Summertime

            
             When I was a child I remember anticipating summertime as a wonderful time filled with all kinds of fun and activities, the possibilities were endless. The sleepovers outside on the trampoline; water fights, barbeques, camping, picnics, amusement parks, and of course one of my favorites the drive-in movies. But, as an adult I think I perceive it a little differently. I look at it as a hot, miserable can't seem to stay cool, running kids everywhere, trying to keep them busy, shelling out money to keep their summertime activities interesting. Keeping up on the yard work, the endless mowing and watering of the grass, the family reunions that you have to keep a happy face on at all times, so as not to be the topic of conversation if you seem frustrated or unhappy. The expensive and nauseating trips to the amusement parks, and having endless messes of wet clothes from all the never ending playing in the water.
             I remember as a child playing outside until all hours of the night playing flashlight tag, hide and go seek, and laying in my sleeping bag looking up at the stars while we all took turns telling jokes. I as a parent worry when sleepover parties went on just hoping they were being safe, getting sleep, and not disturbing the neighbors with their laughing, and chasing around. .
             During the days when I was young I practically lived in my swimsuit because, I loved playing in the sprinklers, hose tag, and having water balloon fights. We would start as soon as the sun was warm, and continued until our fingers and toes were so wrinkled that we couldn't stand it anymore. Sometimes we would put the sprinkler under the trampoline, and have wrestling matches, while the water sprayed us on the face. As parents we dreaded the running in and out of kids, dripping wet making a water trail as they took turns to the bathroom. The yell of the kids, " I can't find my towel," knowing there would be endless laundry after wards.