Most of my friends know that for most of my life summer has probably been my least favorite season – if only because I really despise the heat. So I’ll be the first to say that I’m surprised that this year I’ve dreaded the inevitable heat less than usual. I’m not sure why – maybe I’ve finally accepted the fact that I live in a city that at times, literally feels like hell on earth. Maybe it’s because there’s something honest about summer. If anything, spring has started to annoy me – it’s so fickle with its rain and sunshine and wind and chill. Summer, on the other hand, is all right up in your face with its blasts of inferno heat and relentless sun.

Then there are those extra hours of sunlight that make the day seem longer. This year I found myself looking forward to those long days. Last night as Cory and I ate dinner on the patio at Three Sisters we both remarked on what a nice night it was. There we were, sipping margaritas and munching chips and salsa at 8:30 p.m as the sun slowly set and the cool Delta breeze started to take the edge off the heat.


And there are other things I’ve started to love about summer:

• The early morning chill and the way everything – still washed by the morning dew – seems fresh and new.


• The feel of the sun on my back when I’m wearing a tank top


• DDF Organic Sunblock, SPF 30 for my face – because it doesn’t clog my pores like other sunscreens – and Neutrogena Sunblock Lotion, Sensitive Skin SPF 30 for the rest of me. Anything to avoid that wrinkly, leathered skin look – or skin cancer, of course


• Cherry-scented Banana Boat LipPops in SPF 30


• Really cold iced tea with lemon


• An ice-cold Michelob Ultra beer. Do not laugh. This is a good low-cal beer that, amazingly, does not taste like ass.


• The sound of a desktop fan – it reminds me of my childhood


• Frozen fruit. In the summer I like to stock baggies of frozen blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, bananas and grapes in the freezer….mmmm…..home made Popsicles!


• Store-bought Popsicles! Right now I really love the frozen coconut ones. Especially the ones from the Co-Op that have those big chunks of real coconut in them.


• Getting out of the shower and skipping the hairdryer by just slicking my hair back into pigtails – and then taking it out of the pigtails at the end of the day and finding that my hair is still damp.


• Going to bed with my hair wet because it hasn’t cooled off inside the house and then waking up in the morning to a really soft and curly mess


• Backyard or even porch/patio BBQ’s with grilled veggie burgers, grilled veggies, etc...


• Mid-evening walks in the park


• Knowing that fall will eventually arrive