Speedy July by Nannette Croce

July, and suddenly it seems like the summer is speeding away. For the past four years my summer has begun at the end of my daughter's spring semester at college, around mid-May. For a while it seems like June will never come, and when it does, I'm often thinking, wow, it's still June. Summer hasn't even officially begun. Then July happens and everything speeds by.

By July 4th the daylight is already waning a little earlier––good for the fireworks crowd, but it makes me a little sad. I begin to stay out longer watching the fireflies that often disappear from my area in late summer. Soon the cicadas will be announcing the dog days of August, soupy days when it often feels better to remain indoors. When weeds seem to pop up at twice the normal rate and the weather makes it more of a chore to pull them.

But, I remind myself, it's really only the beginning of July. Were summer a child it would just be attempting its first baby steps. Today we entertained family and did what we can't do during the winter, cooked on the grill, sat outside with paper plates, an enjoyable time with quick, throw-away clean up.

Why look ahead when I am at the height of the season? Why not enjoy what I have right now?