There’s a song that really describes how summer should be. Yeah I’m a little old fashioned, but I really like this song. It’s a song made famous by Frank Sinatra and is titled “Summer Wind.” Yes I am aware that some may interpret this song as a love kindled during the summer. For me, my interpretation, it’s a love of summer, in hopes of never ending, but the reality of it coming to an end is inevitable. But as I said it describes how summer should be. The truth is that I live in Texas, and summer in Texas is HOT! And there is not much wind either. So why title my blog “Summer Wind?” Well because summer is a time that in my life has always meant a lot to me.
When I was young, summer meant no school! And going outside to play, ride bikes, and hanging out with friends. On one of those memorable summers, we built box cars. We used an old lawn mower and big wheel tires, a seat from a big wheel, wood, and rope tied from the right front tire to the left front tire to steer. It was the best time and the best box car in the neighborhood! At least until our cousin came over to claim his big wheel seat for his box car. Although it wasn’t his, he made a big enough stink to my father, that our dad came over and ripped the seat off our box car and gave it to him!! Our father, (the great diplomat that he is) told us that our cousin was less fortunate and that we should be glad we had what we had. What? A box car with NO SEAT? Because that’s all I could think, at the time, never mind the fact that around 10 years later he would be addicted to cocaine, and the rest of his life a constant struggle that he would eventually loose. Despite the premature death of my cousin, who I miss a lot, that summer, was one I’ll never forget.
As a teenager summer was taken to a new level. I still enjoyed no school, hanging with friends, and riding my bike, but now came the freedom of being a little older and abusing the trust that our parents gave us. Oh and did I mention a newly found interest, GIRLS? How did we meet girls if the only place to meet them was in school, and school was out for summer you might ask? ASTROWORLD! Yes! As a young teen you would work hard doing chores and earning money during the school year to buy that much coveted season pass! Those who couldn’t obtain a pass would be made fun of the next school year, so now you could see how important the pass was. For me earning sixty five dollars was quite the challenge, and when I would come up short, my dad was always there to help. Of course there was a lecture to endure before said money was paid, but merely a formality in the great scheme of things.
Here is where my fondest memory of summer takes place as a teen, ASTROWORLD, and yes a girl is involved. We met early that day in the Nottingham Village arcade I actually was dared by my brother to go and say hi. We talked and played video games for a while then walked around the park. Every once in a while we’d see my brothers smiling and saying things about us. What they had to say? I didn’t ask and didn’t really care. We kissed, not sure if it was by the Gunslinger or the XLR8, (cut me some slack we are talking about 26 years ago!) but I do remember the way that kiss made me feel. Later that night we danced at a place in AstroWorld called Videocity and held hands the rest of the night. When it was time to leave we said our goodbyes and kissed. I was so caught up in the moment that I never asked her for her phone number and I never saw her again. Every summer we went back to AstroWorld I thought of her and that one special day.
Now that I’m an adult there is no break between school years and summer has become just another day in the work world. No more school, but also no more hanging with friends, or riding bikes. Well that is if you have a car to get to work. Being an adult means leaving all the fun of summer behind and getting a job, so that you can become a strong contributor to our great society, and provide the means necessary to help support our great government. Well that’s what my father used to say. Don’t get me wrong I still enjoy the summer, just not like I did growing up, at least, until now. For over twenty years I have been a contributor to our economy and now due to the lack there of, I have been subjected to the pitfalls derived from miss-calculations and unforeseen circumstances. In other words, I was laid off this year for the first time in my life.
It just so happened that it was also the end of the school year for our two children ages 9 and 6. So with much thought and consideration, my wife and I decided, I would stay home with the kids this summer, rather than bear the expense of a summer program. Well the summer is almost over and even though me and the kids have not done much as far as going far-out places we have enjoyed no school, riding bikes, and sleeping late. I put in sleeping late because that’s something else I hadn’t done in a long time. But most of all, we have enjoyed each other. Spending this kind of quality time with my children has been the best experience I have ever had, and by far the best summer I have had in my lifetime.
Next summer I will more than likely have a job, but if things go well I will take a few days off from work to rekindle the fun times I had with my children. There will be no school, we will ride our bikes, and maybe even go to some far-off place. As you can see, for me there is a strong love for summer and I wish it would never end, but now I realize that looking forward to the next summer is also part of the fun. So bring on the autumn wind, and the winter wind, I know they will go flying by. And I will look forward to the nights that never end, to spend time with my children and of course my fickle friend, the summer wind!
