Ready, Set, Summer!

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: Unlike any other season, there are multiple starting points to “summer.” Because summer, more than any other of the four seasons, is a concept. It’s a verb, a vibe, a change in our lives. The astronomical start of summer is, of course, the solstice on June 21st. The tourism industry start of summer is Memorial Day weekend, when three days off work and school combine with (hopefully) good weather to encourage everyone to take a trip to the shore/coast/lake/mountains.

For any of us who have raised kids or worked in the school system, the next start of summer is the end of the school year. In the snowy Northeast, this is often right around the middle of June. I looked back at my calendars, and it consistently hit between June 13 and June 17 in our town.

But to me, the real start of summer is the beginning of July. In Maine, we’re finally getting warm enough weather to risk going places without an extra layer. I can leave the windows open all night, and I’ve gotten the fans down from the attic. In my family, this week was usually the first week at camp Bishopswood for one of our kids (we usually staggered them over the summer because they didn’t want to be part of a sibling set while there.) And of course for most of us, no matter where we live, the hallmarks of summer occur in July and August: sweet corn and amusement parks, trips to the beach and to the swimming pool, baseball and badminton. 

Reds, when does summer really start for you, and what are its hallmarks?

HALLIE EPHRON: Of course summer starts for me with food. Sweet corn, cherries, and local strawberries! Even though our local corn isn’t ripe for weeks and the cherries are from another coast. The end of the school year (no more bus-driven traffic jams in my town square)! And this year, going to Maine for July 4 to enjoy the fireworks over Casco Bay.

Meanwhile I’m staring at the air conditioner sitting on the floor of my office and figuring out who I’m going to cadge into helping me lift it into the window.

 

LUCY BURDETTE: It’s been the weirdest weather in New England–cool and cloudy. Actually, I am very grateful we don’t have a heat wave! My summer hallmarks, like Hallie’s, are mostly food. Tuna melts, cookouts, corn on the cob, strawberries in our garden, tomatoes!! This year our church has been given the honor of being the grand marshall in the July 4 parade. I think we are marching, and I *hope* the grandchildren will be marching with us. I try not to make too many plans when they visit, because they change and change:).

 

DEBORAH CROMBIE: By the time I left Dallas for London on Midsummer’s Day, I was already over it. We’d had a few weeks of weather bearable enough for grilling, the summer produce was in at the farmer’s market, but you knew the heat was coming, and it did. Followed me to London for the first few days, too, which were truly miserable, but now we have perfect English summer, with temps in the 70s. The British strawberries are everywhere and they are wonderful! Everyone is dining al fresco! I am not going to want to go home, where the rest of summer will just be a heat endurance test.

 

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Lucy, I just burst out laughing. I am so ..relieved and reassured. When are the kids coming? We honestly NEVER know, It’s already changed three times, seriously. How  I know summer is here is that our farm shares come, and it is SO great! Snap peas, and super fresh lettuce, and fantastic bread, and all kinds of amazing vegetables–broccolini, and spinach, and corn corn corn. (what do I do with garlic scapes, again?)  And tomatoes! Our SunGolds are on the way..they’re green now, but I know they will be here soon. If the rabbits eat them, I fear for the battle royale…they can have the hosta–just ask them–but our tomatoes are off limits. Ad the perennial question: Will I get into the pool this year?

JENN McKINLAY: Living in AZ, summer starts in mid-May when the temperatures spike into the 100’s (although we got lucky this year and it waited until mid-June). And it’s all about getting the heck outta here! When not on vacation at our summer place in Nova Scotia or beach time in San Diego, we spend time in our pool, waiting for the heat to pass. Summer ends in mid-Oct so we have a ways to go.  

RHYS BOWEN:  I am currently enjoying English summer in the wilds of Cornwall, with extremely spotty internet, hence my absence from Jungle Reds so much recently. We’ve had some glorious days, eating outside, light until ten o’clock. I think that spells summer for me— eating outside. I love picnics. I love sitting on a balmy evening watching lights come on in the valley. Usually summer starts early in California but it’s been a weird year, cooler in CA than in London. When I get home I’ll look forward to farmers markets and fresh fruit.

 

JULIA: How about you, dear readers? What defines the start of summer for you? 

 

Images  by velk1976,  David Mark,  Jill Wellington,  -Rita-👩‍🍳 und 📷 mit ❤,  Engin Akyurt and Walter Bichler, all from Pixabay.

Making a Splash?

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: I was thinking about how this year I might have to buy a new bathing suit. Argh. After I made all of the predictable excuses: it's too early, it's too late. Nothing ever fits, the lights in the dressing room make me look green… Anyway, after all that whining, I thought: wait, let me look at my old bathing suits and see if perhaps I can use one of those.

Funnily enough--I guess it's funny---I found some bathing suits in a drawer that still had their tags on them. I had purchased them, apparently thinking they were reasonably okay, and never worn them.

Why is that you ask? Because: I never go swimming. I have to say, I live in Boston, which is near (duh) the ocean. We have millions of friends on the Cape. And in Maine.  We go to the Caribbean from time to time, and… We have a swimming pool in our backyard.

It is the family joke that I never go in the water.

I remember growing up I loved swimming. First we played in the sprinkler. Apparently, as you can see from this photo from...1954-ish? I was already into swim suit coverups.

Later it was our summer social life, going to the pool. Hanging with everyone. Listening to Surfer Girl and Da Do Ron Ron  and  Sum-Sum-Summertime on our transistor radios, and doing whatever else we did, which I don't remember. I think it was dodging the splashes of the guys trying to splash us while pretending to ignore us while showing off by doing cannonballs. And--can openers, right? That was holding just one leg.

I also remember one summer when, inspired by Esther Williams, I think we tried synchronized swimming. For about a minute.  I could dive off he high dive. No prob.

But no more. Why do I not go swimming? Everyone thinks I either can't swim, wrong, or afraid of the water, wrong, or don't like swimming, wrong again. The reason I haven't been swimming in years is a strange one… It's because I can't see.  To be able to see, I either have to wear my contacts, which is not a good thing in water. Or I have to wear my glasses. Worse. So what I would do was just avoid it.

But since I had cataract surgery I can really see. And as the guys came to open the pool last weekend, I thought wow! I could actually go in this year. So we shall... see. I still don't have a good bathing suit.

How about you all? Are you swimmers ? Or are you more watchers. Are you mermaids? Or shorebirds?

INGRID THOFT: I’m definitely a mermaid or a selkie.  From Irish, Scottish, and Icelandic folklore, selkies are creatures who are seals in the water, but shed their skin to be human on land.  I love swimming, preferably in the ocean with critters.  Snorkeling and scuba diving are two of favorite activities because I can observe, and sometimes, interact with the sea life.  I dove with a potato cod fish the size of a small car on the Great Barrier Reef, who wanted to tag along, even when I was headed on my way!  Although the ocean is my first choice, I’ll dive into pools, ponds, and lakes with equal enjoyment.  I also love taking baths, so I guess that water just suits me.

HANK: Ingrid, you are my role model for swimming. I cannot believe your adventures!

HALLIE EPHRON: I love snorkeling, too! You don't have to be a strong swimmer, you just have to be able to relax in the water and let your flippers keep you afloat.

HANK: Gah. I can't do that.

HALLIE: When I was little I loved to run through the sprinklers in our backyard.  (ed. note: Here's Hallie, probably the same era a few years later) Then I graduated to the ocean. I learned to body surf and was there trying to catch the waves, and then getting tossed upside own and ground into the sand. And coming up and going right back out again.

Now I rarely go in the water, but when we were in Puerto Rico I did take my granddaughter into the pool several times. More standing and weightlifting in the water wearing a hat and sunglasses than actual swimming.

JENN MCKINLAY: I love the water. Pools are fun to splash in but I prefer the ocean -- surfing, paddle boarding, boogie boarding, snorkeling, all of it. I am in. However, I only enjoy it if the water is clear. I grew up on Long Island Sound (not clear, brown, very brown) and I was eight when JAWS came out. My brother -- my Irish twin as he's only eleven months older -- used to sneak up on me while I was swimming and grab my leg and tug me under. Scared the snot out of me every time. Argh!!! Even though I didn't see the movie until I was much older, I can still hear the terrifying music and I don't enjoy water that is over my head if I can't see the bottom. Yes, I'm afraid of sharks because of a movie. Ridiculous, I know.

HANK: Well, yeah. There's a whole generation of people who are permanently traumatized. DA-dum DA-dum.  (sorry :-) )

LUCY BURDETTE: My mother was completely ocean-crazy so we spent all of our summers either at the Jersey shore or in Hatteras NC. We kids were in the water for hours and hours. I also had swimming lessons and am a strong swimmer. I took the water safety instructor class, but didn't pass the part where you had to swim a 200 pound person to the shore. And I used to swim for exercise, including long swims in the Long Island Sound with John. (Jenn, the water is much much nicer these days.) However, that ended after several jelly fish stings. And now I hardly go into the water. Why? The chlorine smell doesn't appeal to me in pools...jellyfish in the sound...too much sun... But in the end, here's what I think: I'm a Capricorn and Capricorns are of the earth, not the water. That said, I'm going to go in more this summer, I swear!

RHYS: I was born a mermaid! I am told that the first time I was taken to the beach I started walking toward the water and kept on going. They pulled me out when I was up to my neck! Unfortunately I grew up in a country of non-heated pools and cold ocean. But since I've lived in California I have swum every day. I just relax when I am in the water, especially warm water. I'm a passionate snorkeler. I have four kids who were all competitive swimmers and now grand kids who are top water-polo players. 

 DEBORAH CROMBIE: I love the water, and love being by the ocean more than just about anything (other than London or the English countryside.) I grew up in the country club and community pools--that's what you did in Texas in the summer, swim, swim, swim, every day. But I have never been a strong swimmer, and when I was about fifteen I got caught in the undertow off the beach in Acapulco. I would have drowned if some other swimmers hadn't seen me go under and rescued me. Since then I have never been comfortable in deep water. I love snorkeling, but only if I can touch bottom! So this makes me pretty much a watery wimp.

Yeesh.

Hank, I totally get it about not being able to see. I was in the same boat (excuse the pun) and it hadn't occurred to me that since my cataract surgery I'd be able to see while swimming. Maybe I'll drag out that cute swimsuit I bought last year and never wore!

PS Does anyone else say "bathing suit?" Hubby always makes fun of me when I do....

HANK: I always say bathing suit! Is it supposed to be swimsuit? I never call it that. So how about you, Reds? Water or not? Do you swim with the (do not use the S word)  or happily sit by the pool/lake/ocean?  And do you have this year's--Ahhhhhh--bathing suit?