Searching For Summertime

/ Ann Coleman

If you know me at all, you know that I am no fan of winter.  I hate being cold, I’m afraid to drive on icy roads, and as a volunteer dog walker at the local Humane Society, I spend a lot of time outside, even on the coldest of days.  That means I spend most of the winter waiting impatiently for the weather to warm up so I can ditch my scarves, coats, gloves, and most importantly, my long underwear.  So I am getting more than a little cranky about the fact that it is now July 7th, and yet I still don’t feel as if summer has even begun.

DSC03343July in St. Louis is supposed to be hot and humid.  This is the time of year when I am supposed to be wearing capris (they hide more spider veins and cellulite than shorts, which is important at my age), cooling off at a swimming pool, eating dinner on my backyard patio and enjoying the flowering blooms I worked so hard to plant in the spring.  I should be excited about the tomatoes beginning to ripen on my gigantic tomato plants (I have no idea why they get so big) and I should be spending my evenings at outdoor concerts in the park, complaining about the humidity and swatting at mosquitoes, but still happy to be outside.

But instead of a normal St. Louis summer, this year we have gotten mostly cool weather and a whole lot of rain.  We’ve had a couple of days of true summer heat, but the minute I begin to adjust to it, another cold front comes along, bringing a drop in temperatures and more rain.  The flowers I so carefully planted a couple of months ago are in danger of drowning, we’ve had exactly two meals on our patio since Memorial Day and I haven’t gotten to go swimming once.  Admittedly, given what I look like in a swim suit these days, that last one isn’t necessarily a bad thing.  But still, I should at least have the option to go swimming if I want to.  And when I go out for dinner, I usually have to bring along a sweater or light jacket, just in case in stops raining long enough that we might get to sit outside.  A sweater, mind you……in July!

156I know that there are many areas of the country right now suffering from terrible drought, and I truly wish I could send some of our cold and rain their way.  Because I am well and truly tired of it, and I want the summer I spent those cold winter months dreaming of.  I want to go outside in my bare feet; I want to eat produce I have grown myself, I want to enjoy stepping into a cool shower after coming home from the Humane Society hot and sweaty from walking dogs.   Most importantly, I want the chance to grow so tired of the heat and humidity that I am actually glad when fall comes around, even though I know it will be followed by the dreaded winter.  Because face it, I need my summers….they’re what help me get through my winters!

16 thoughts on “Searching For Summertime”

  1. Ann, I unlike you hate summers. But then our winters here in Australia are mild compared to some places.

    I feel sorry for you with all that cold wet weather in summer, but can you send that rain my way please! 😃

    It’s great that you walk these dogs. They must love you. Years ago when I was 12, I offered to help out at a dog pound but I cried so much when I saw all those sad faces looking out at me behind bars I could’nt go back. Coward! Now I live to far from a pound to help. I have been thinking of becoming a foster mum to dogs but would I give them all back. NO

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    • Spring is my favorite season (except for allergies), but I certainly prefer summer to winter! And I know what you mean about how it can be hard to volunteer at a shelter. I’m lucky to have a close, supportive group of other volunteers and staff who help each other cope. I could not do it without them!

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  4. This past weekend was the first rain free days we had at our tennis club. Members were literally “drunk on sunshine”. I’ve had seasonal depression in June! What the hell? I want a Sun burn and sweat. Not mold count in the gazzillions.

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  5. I feel for you. I’m a summer girl too. I love bare feet and outdoor living. We’ve had a good deal of rain here in NJ too but it has been mostly hot as well. I feel like I earn each and every day of summer by putting up with winters deep freeze! I hope you get your warm weather soon!

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  7. Ann, I’ve been enjoying all of your postings, even though I don’t say so each time. We’re in tourist season here at the residence, and also the out-of-town ambassadorial events have increased. Brendan arrived June 28. Ryan and Nadine have been here for a week (they leave Saturday). Tara and Caelan come on Tuesday. Looks like they will likely be living here on the grounds in the apartment over the garage.

    I miss you and wish you were coming sooner than next May, but that will give me something else to look forward to.

    Love, Dena

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  8. Thanks, Dena! It sounds as if you are having a good summer (although in Ireland, I doubt your weather is much different than what we’re having here at the moment), with all of your family there. I’m so glad Brendan and his family will be able to spend a year with you! It’s going to be so nice to have them close.
    And I am really, really looking forward to our visit! Miss you…..

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