It’s the first day of summer.

And my mind wanders back

        Way back to summers of long ago.

 Lemonade stands

       long afternoons at the pool

               and flavored ice cubes.

My favorite were the grape flavored ice cubes.

Oh they were sooo good.

On a steamy hot afternoon we would each get one from the metal ice-cube tray

        hold it with a napkin

       and then take it outside to eat.

I longed for mine to last forever

   but as I licked it

       it grew smaller and smaller

        and smaller until it was gone.

Flavored ice cubes, kool aid

   Root beer floats.

Some nights we’d all pile into the car.

   My brothers and I in the back.

   Mom and dad in the front of the old blue Plymouth

   and head to the local A&W.

My Dad would order root beer floats for everyone

     and as we waited I could just imagine how good they were going to taste

Delicious root beer soda and vanilla ice cream

    served in tall glass mugs

So cold that it would make you wince

     when you swallowed.

 

Shining moments all over the place.

 

Riding bikes through the sprinkling hoses.

Water pistols

Laughter

       and children

            and dogs all over the place.

We lived in a suburb of Kansas City

   nice neighbors,

     great roads for riding your bike

  and on a summer’s eve the kids would all get together

     and play hide and go seek until it got so dark.

      we’d have to ask our neighbors to please turn on their outside lights.

Oh how I loved those memories of long ago.

 

Summertime is a time to savor.

A blessing from His Gracious Hand

   as we enjoy a somewhat slower pace of life.

Have a great summer, my friends.

Enjoy each watermelon, cookout,

     Lightning bug catchin’ moment.

It’s time to let the child in you

 come out and play.

I’m ready.

How about you?