Days Of Summer

I must say that so far my summer has been the best in many years. I have done so many fun things without having to get on a plane and go far from home. Last summer I went to my dad's family reunion in Tampa Florida, and although the trip was fun with my dad and son, the weather was brutally hot and flying was a nightmare!

This summer I've done some really basic things that have given me so much joy. For a perfect example, I've taken some fridays off and slept in. When you're a commuter from Jersey to New York, sleeping in is worth it's weight in gold! On those days I sleep in I get to watch The View and hear first hand what my favorite host has to say...Whoopi Goldberg of course. Speaking of which I ran into her on 44th & Broadway last saturday when I was heading to my favorite Italian resturant, Carmines for the best Mango Martini's on the eastern seaboard! Whoopi was coming out of the theatre where she is doing a part in Xanadu and as she left the crowd out front mobbed her SUV as she was trying to get in and get away.

See what I mean about summertime? It's the time of year when people come out and show their beautiful tanned skin and do fun things on the spur of the moment. People tend to smile more and give off an aura of honest happiness. It's intoxicating and I love this time of year.

Another of my favorite summertime things is to go to my parents home for great old fashioned BBQ's. I live in an urban area where you hear sirens and helicopters flying overhead and just plain old city noise. Where my parents live and where I grew up is in a suburb of north Jersey where the sounds of crickets and birds mating are louder than cars or people. When we have BBQ's the food is always delicious and the tequilla margaritas are addictive. We sit in the gazebo around a table,eat, talk and just plain old relax and, laugh. You know those deep belly laughs that you can't control, because you are remembering something so funny, you laugh until it hurts.

These are some of my favorite things. Getting together with family to eat a meal and hang out under the sun. I watch my niece, nephew and my son playing basketball or riding their bikes around. I see my daughter going for a long walk up the boulevard in the warm weather and my heart feels good.

Another of my favorite summertime activities is going to the beach. My partner and I have made a couple of trips so far, and I must tell you, we've had the most relaxing and fun times. We go to a beach in Belmar, NJ and walk about a mile to the board walk. Once we get there and settle in, we walk down to the waters edge and frolic in the water. When we return to the sand we stretch out and take naps or read magazines. Oh what fun to just sit and look up into the blue sky and see the sun beaming down on me. I absolutely love being near the water. I feel instantly relaxed and at peace.

I am praying that August does not rush by and annouce the end of the summertime fun. No matter, I will make the most of the time I have left with the sun and have as much fun doing as much as I can jam pack into every day!!

Hope everyone is enjoying theirs as much as I am mine, and if you haven't done anything unusual or shown some tanned skinned, then get to it!!!