Summer has arrived

Though I no longer pack up my books for the summer and it's been years since I crossed off the days until I could announce, "School's out!", I still have a school-kid longing for summer to begin.  The problem with the fact that I am currently void of any end of the day school bells or even a job that takes an ounce of a break when summer begins, I have no bearing for when my summer begins.  Maybe it's Memorial Day weekend, but there is still a chill in the air and work still beckons after the short 3-day weekend.  I like to think that it's the first hot day that we pull out the water toys and soak in the sun, but we had some teasers back in March with the spring "heatwave", so it all seems to blend together.
This past week Charles and I celebrated our 5-year anniversary.  The day before our anniversary we had taken a ride together as a family and as we pulled into our driveway, a little blue hydrangea peeked out behind the green leaves.  Just like that, it appeared, in perfect time for our anniversary (hydrangeas were a central part of our wedding day decor).  With the loving help from my parents, Charles and I took a much weekend away together.  We headed out to the Berkshires, parked our lawnchairs on the Tanglewood green and enjoyed an uninterrupted evening of live music, further enhanced by our favorite glass of wine.  I don't know the exact moment,  maybe it was the appearance of the hydrangea on our kitchen table on June 30th along with our anniversary card.  Maybe it was the ability to relax and reflect in one of the most beautiful places in Massachusetts on a beautiful night.  But summer is here, it arrived on our doorstep last weekend.  The lightning bugs are suddenly brighter, the nights are stickier, clothing on the children is optional on most days and ice cream is a daily demand.  I love the silent passage of each season.  This time in our lives is so busy and full of activity as we celebrate Julia's birthday, Charles' birthday, Father's day and our anniversary within a two week span.  The introduction of summer is the realization that we are here again, another year has passed.  One year has drastically changed our family - growth would be the word of the year for us this year.  When we thought about the 5 summers that have made up our marriage, we were amazed at the defining transitions from year to year.  Constant travel was traded for days at home playing in our own backyard.  As I look back at our photos from our wedding day, I see pure happiness on our faces, but as I watch the photos evolve, I can see a joy that we could have never prepared for on June 30th, 2007.  Summer has arrived, we will acknowledge a transition into these blissful, buggy nights outside.  It just gets better and better - these truly are the days we will always remember!