Welcome to Summer!

It seems like summer actually arrived in March with a round of 90 degree temperatures that eventually settled into the 80’s.  There have been temporary dips back into the 70’s, but warm weather seems to be here to stay.  As example, highs for later this week are forecast to be near 100 degrees.  Despite all this, one sobering image allows us to place this in a proper perspective:  One year from today little ones will be ripping open presents while hoping that we truly had a white Christmas.

Although some of our regulars were unable to make it, our luncheon in May was among our best attended.  For those who were able to make it, great!  For those who didn’t, schedules are like that.  As we’ve all learned, being retired doesn’t make you immune from schedules, your time just fills with different things.

While we are talking about schedules, mark your calendars now.  The next one is on Tuesday, September 4th, at noon. We have again reserved the meeting area of Ryan’s in Marion. Make your plans accordingly.

Speaking of summer, last year we posted Anna Lætitia Barbauld’s Ode to Spring.  That resulted in such positive comments it seemed to be an appropriate time to advance our focus.  Below is an offering from Shaliss Hassell, appropriately titled Ode to Summer. 

As summer knocks upon my door
my heart is lit with glee.
Nostalgic are the smell of barbeques,
blossoming honey suckle and lemon iced tea.
Cocoa-buttered skin
warmed by the summer sun
make me think of block parties
and super soaker guns.
Taking me back to times before
when I wished the sun would never set…
with family on road trips to Carolina
asking “Are we there yet??”
We laughed out loud with heads tilted back
and ran with the wind like birds…
climbing the sturdy limbs of trees
believing we were squirrels.
Laying in the grass
looking up to the sky
Seeing “Wild Things” in the clouds
and flying kites.
At that age
not thinking about the past
just listening for the ice cream man
and happy to be free of class.
Jumping fences
and breaking rules…
in that summer heat
any pool would do.
Make-shift picnics
in the backyard…
Riding bikes, hands free, down hilly streets
didn’t matter how far.
Hopscotch, freeze tag, Mother May I, hide-n-seek…
Holding our breath under water
to see who’d beat.
I loved those days of yours, Dear Summer…
they never seemed to grow stale…
and even as the years go by
the excitement never fails.

For those desiring additional information on this artist, check this web site:  http://shalissmonethassell.wordpress.com/about/

See you in September!

Robert Ferguson, President