Suddenly I’m hearing the sounds summer in my neighbourhood. It’s been a while.
The squeals and laughter of children bring back memories of my childhood and I am transported to summers past.
My sticky hands after the creamsicle melts so fast you can only lick it from the bottom, while the delicious orange coating melts in your warm mouth.
Sitting in a wet bathing suit until it dries crisp on your skin.
Sleep over camp where I spent the most glorious week in the Vancouver Island wilderness in a cabin with giggly girls telling ghost stories.
The summer my parents told me they were divorcing, and I vowed to move to a motel, so I didn’t have to choose between them.
Selling pink lemonade at our drink stand and planning the candy we will buy with our profits before we’ve even sold a glass.
Spending hours trying unsuccessfully to catch a fish off a dock with a string and a worm.
The crunch of orange lumpy carrots we pulled from my best friend’s grandfathers’ vegetable garden.
Watching Bedknobs and Broomsticks in a cool dark movie theatre on a hot night.
Jumping off a dock with boys.
Playing ‘kick the can’ until a mother could be heard screaming your name as dusk settled on the hot pavement.
Moving to a new town and having no one to hang out with until school starts.
Falling asleep in the warm sun under a beach towel.
We wait so long for these precious days of summer and when I hear the crickets rubbing their leathery front wings together, I know it’s almost over.
So don’t waste it. Do what makes summer special to you.
Share your summer experiences, the sweet and the bitter, with the young people in your life so they understand the importance of making summertime memories.
Ingrid Abbott is freelance writer who’s happy her tax dollars are contributing to Delta’s awesome summer activities
