Hello, Summer. Welcome, old friend. I have a love-hate relationship with you.

Summer, I realize I need you. I need you to remind me to slow down. You issued your luxurious reminder to me with gleefulness the first Monday after my daughter returned from her annual after-school camp with her aunt. You reminded me as we pounced into the twilight for our daily walk when it had cooled enough. We bathed our bare arms and legs in your evening air. You reminded me to cherish the childlike freedom you gift us each late May and June. I look forward to the getaways with a kind of fun and recreation that only you can bring.

Summer, I celebrate the croak of your frogs, the chirp or your crickets, the color and song of your birds and the glory of your blue-tailed, filigree-winged dragon fly and those ginormous blue skies dabbled with cloud art that don jewel tones as the days end.

I cherish your early cool mornings as I water my parched plants. To your heat that creeps and seeps and punishes as the days wear on…I surrender. That about you, summer, is not my favorite trait of yours.

Hello, Summer. Old friend. You are not the season that is my favorite. But I welcome your return. You remind me the cycle of life that goes on and on despite the hurries, worries and furrowing of my brow. You remind me that all really is well. That life does march on in spite of any dramas I may enact. Gently, you coax me to stop and cherish what you bring manifest each day on the tips of your warm, warm rays. You teach me, Summer. Thank you. Welcome back once again.

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Photo: LeisaHammett.com, Lena's Pointe, Black Mountain, N.C. One of the most relaxing vacations ever, I stayed at this rent by owner (which has now sold). Above the treetops, we sat out on porch rockers with this as our view. When the spirit moved, we'd mosie across Western North Carolina visiting the day's array of tailgate farmer's markets. Oh, I love Western North Carolina and will return to her mountains twice this summer.