Amy Lu's View

I don’t want summer to end. 

Yes, there are many delights of fall. And this has been a rather crappy summer–just in terms of weather and environment alone, with the heat wave and the drought and the bad air quality caused by wildfire smoke. 

I’m not even that much of a summer person–I don’t hang out at the beach or by the pool or go up to the cabin or go camping. Even in the before times I rarely did cookouts or summer festivals/fairs or road trips. I don’t go to ball games. I absolutely don’t garden or do yardwork. I hate bugs and thunderstorms.

But I love the long days of summer and the hours and hours of daylight. I’m still amazed that we get almost 16 hours of daylight at the summer solstice. Just the idea of all that light is somewhat intoxicating.  

Actually the very idea of summer is intoxicating, and maybe what I really love. I want to bask in  what summer represents (at least to me)–possibility, freedom, ease, growth, celebration, beauty, relaxation, indulgence.

And I had such high hopes for this summer–as many of us had. I was going to reconnect with so many people that I hadn’t been able to see in person, and do so many things–concerts, dining out–that Covid had squelched. 

Many of my hopes and dreams for this summer did come true, and it was wonderful, and I`m so thankful. But of course, I couldn’t do everything or see everyone I wanted to. Even without Delta, my expectations for what I could reasonably fit in–especially after months of not having a packed schedule and wanting to avoid jumping back into that–were unrealistic. 

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I can’t make summer last no matter how much I try. Clinging to summer will only get messy and sad and a little scary, just like when Toad tries to run with melting ice cream cones in the aptly titled story “Ice Cream.”* 

Toad’s intentions are good–he’s just trying to bring a little joy, in the form of an ice cream cone, to his waiting friend Frog. But not only does the ice cream cone melt before he makes it to Frog, Toad ends up a sticky mess mistaken for a monster by the other animal he encounters. 

Luckily, Frog isn’t phased (no crying over melted ice cream) and just suggests that they go get two more cones together and enjoy them in the shade. 

I can’t just go an order another summer, but I can fondly remember the summer I’ve just had, and do my damndest to appreciate its fading bits (there is still light and this is some of the most gorgeous weather we’ve had) and savor the approaching fall. And I can do my best to enjoy these delights together–with Chad, with StanLee, with friends and family (in 3D and 2D) and blog readers. 

And I can still keep eating too much “low-fat” Halo ice cream. 

*I’m back to writing inspired about “Frog and Toad” stories–I THINK I only have 4 more to go!