Endless Summer

Traditionally in the US, the Memorial Day holiday weekend is the start of the summer season, even though it doesn't officially begin until the third week in June. I remember as a child, chafing to be free of the routines of school and longing for the lazy, carefree days of summer. Riding my bike, roller skating on the bumpy sidewalks, lying on the ground looking up at clouds, and visiting the local swimming pool. Those days really seemed to last so long. I had 5 siblings to share the long days with, and those memories are so precious! We played outside until the street lights came on--that was the family rule about when to be home.

We went to Oceanside this afternoon, and this was the view from the pier. I haven't seen this many people here in a long time. You can see that people were really enjoying the water, from the ones that just dip their toes to those that ride the waves. The weather was amazing--much warmer at the coast than I would have thought. We live about 12 miles inland, as the crow flies, and often need to take a jacket with us to be comfortable.

This weekend our daughter was here, and we enjoyed a long walk together along the coast and pier. Shared a meal at one of our favorite spots, then a movie together once we returned home. Seemed like a wonderful start to the summer.