If you ask me, all the other seasons are over rated, and only summer is under rated. And perhaps why I have chosen to never grow up. For after participating in more than few of them, I think I can justify my case. For summer is fun, and I love summer.
Summer is more than a day light season. It extends into the night with longer daylight hours, allowing playtime to go on. And since there is no school, you can stay up later, because you don't have to get up-at least when you are a kid, which is a time we never take full advantage of. I was so busy trying to be 12 so I could get into the movies with my older friends, I missed some kid stuff. I am making up for it now-by not going to the movies. And riding more each summer. For summertime is fun, and I love summer.
Just before junior high, in that 10-12 age group, should be the best time of your life. No real job yet, no girlfriends to force you into needing money, which requires a job, too young to ride on the street, so no gas money needed, and no school-all summer. You are still a few years from where you know it all, and friends are still special. Summer is fun, and I love summer.
After a hard day of playing at the park, you rush out to meet your friends after dinner for kickball. And you tell your mother the energy you need for the extra few innings you get in, you got from dinner. But truly the visit from the Carnival or Good Humor man is the key to it. Give me a Strawberry Shortcake for my 15 cents. But recently a new player has caused you to rethink your choice, Mr. Softee. Serving the creamiest, creamiest soft ice cream, in a cone, he comes by sporadically, and you discover that if you eat the Good Humor treat, he is sure to show. When you hear his truck, no ice cream bells here, it plays the Mr. Softee tune, you run to your mother for more money, and when you finally wear her down for the extra 15 cents-it is worth it. Perhaps the offer to share with her is the clincher-nah, she can get her own. Game called on account of Mr. Softee-but that's OK. Because it is almost dark, and after playing catch, you sit with friends under the street light, and listen to the older guys talk about girls, study halls, Joey's new 5speed, an English racer, how candy bars seem to be getting smaller, what's next, 6 cents? and how parents can give you a tough time raising them. Which entails sharing the latest beating you got, which now sounds spectacular when bragging your dad hits harder than theirs, but wishing he didn't. This goes on, until after repeated threats from the house, "it's late, you have to get up in the morning," you go in-thoroughly exhausted, and fall to sleep, ready to repeat it again. You're a kid, carefree, and life couldn't be better. Because summertime is fun, and I love summertime.
At least twice a week you sleep out, usually in Joey's tent. It holds four people, and along with Kenny and Joey, you are the third regular. Again hitting up your mother for a quarter this time, for extra candy and a comic book. And at 12 cents, influences all the other choices which are only a nickel. And it's usually Archie, and while you are still too young to understand most of it, the guys at night discuss the attributes of Betty and Veronica-the earliest education on girls you get, and you are introduced to the age old decision of Betty or Veronica, still Veronica, even today. Staying up late, you listen more than talk-these guys have me by 3-5 years, and know everything, you can read about Jughead tomorrow, this is important stuff, and after 10 it is time for the radio. 77 WABC! Cousin Brucie time. And his voice is the last you hear until you wake up the next morning and go home and take a nap from staying up all night, the radio batteries dead from leaving the little transistor on all night. And once again hear from you parents how expensive the 29 cent 9 volt is, and after "yes Dad, ok Mom," you agree to never do it again-until the next time. Of which this time was the next time last time. Until next time. And it's ok, because it's summertime, and fun. And I love summertime.
I ask people two things-what good is fun if you don't enjoy it? And as a Christian we should have more fun than anybody-so why don't we? This is asked usually after I have explained why I enjoy Jesus in my life so much. He tells us to come to Him as little children-and based on the above, I had fun. So I still do, realizing God is my Daddy in heaven. He's that personal. And as I get closer to Him, I trust Him even more, so what to you appears to be carelessness, is really being carefree. Remember that peace He promises that you don't understand, but try to anyway? I don't try. Which leaves me more time to enjoy life because I worry less. He wants to be my God-so I let Him! And along with happiness, He fills me with joy. And the summer saga continues. Because being a Christian is fun, and I love Jesus!
We don't sit under the streetlights after kickball anymore. No more kickball to play at our age, but we still sit out on the porch every night and visit like we did as kids. The topics may have changed to cars, motorcycles, and places to go, but no longer girls, as I have the one God gave me with me on the porch each night. And sometimes I'll read until the sun goes down, and thank God for these times He has given us. Times to be alone with Him-no TV, radio, cd, or anything else. Spending it with my wife and anyone else who stops by. Quiet to listen to life in the background. And on special nights I still swear I can hear the Mr. Softee truck tune getting closer...
But only after I've had a Good Humor! My stomach full of ice cream, and summer is fun. Carefree with Jesus. And I love summer, because Jesus loves me. How can you not love summer?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogpsot.com