Ode to Summer! (06/14/07)

I wake up, the sun is already streaming through the shades covering my window and the light makes the room feel bright and warm. I stretch and smile as I hear birds of all kinds singing as they forage for worms, grubs, seed and other food in the yard. I feel a movement at my feet, and a little small lump under the covers slowly makes it's way up from the darkness. Then a small furry head peaks out from under the sheet, and in an instant I feel a cold nose on my ear and wet licks on my cheek. This is my dog Brutus's morning ritual, and his way of telling me it is time to roll out of bed and let him outside.

Lazily I pull the sheets away from my body and stretch again, before placing my feet on the floor and standing up. Just as soon as I'm on my feet, Brutus springs from the bed and awaits me anxiously at the door... tail wagging furiously. I slide into a pair of shorts and throw on a T-shirt before opening the bedroom door and watching Brutus bound off down the hallway. I too make my way down the hallway only to find Brutus waiting at the patio door leading to the back yard. I slide the door open and in mere seconds he is down the steps of the deck and sprinting across the lawn. He goes off and hides as he does his thing, and then returns to the center of the yard. He rolls on his back and sprawls out to and fro, joyfully basking in the moring sunlight.

I step out onto the deck and am immediately showered in intense sunshine, the warmth of which energizes my soul. I make my way cautiously across the aging deck which is riddled with nails precariously positioned in numerous locations like painful land minds for the soles of unlucky feet. Leaning over the rail, I look out past the fenceline and down at the still swollen and muddy Gallatin River. The recent rains and temperature have the water rushing madly and mightily right up to the banks. The plant don't mind though, as the trees have exploded into full bloom and everything is lush and green.

As I look out at the back yard, I realize that I am truly happy... Summer has finally arrived! I begin to think of all the recent adventures I have been on, and smile to myself. Just over the past few weeks I have had many a good time occupying myself with river rafting, hiking, mountain biking, bonfires, playing Frisbee golf (folf), riding the motorcycle, golfing, playing on the 4wheeler, and just the other day I even went up in a helicopter. Along with the warmth of Summer, comes almost too many fun opportunities to choose from. There are so many things still on my agenda to do, and so much more fun to be had... I can't wait!!!

So I raise a toast to Summer... to backyard barbecues, to sunburns and good friends, to hot days and tubing trips down the river, to girls in bikinis, to motorcycles, to fishing, to steep hikes up to mountain lakes, to tents and camping, to muddy roads and ATVs, to flat rocks for skipping, to skiing and tubing behind powerboats, to bonfires and roasting marshmallows, to drive thru movie theatres, to fireworks, to fairs and carnivals, to cotton candy and sticky fingers, to kayaking and rafting, to road trips with the windows down, to Music on Main, to the Crystal Rooftop, to hearty meals on outdoor patios, to ice cold beer, to 18 holes of golf, to cliff jumping, to everything else there is to see and do in this all-too-short, wonderfully warm season we call Summer.

So savor it... enjoy it... make the most of it... because as we all know, it will be gone and over all too soon! Have fun, be safe, and if if something springs up that I 'd be interested in... well for the love of it all, give me a shout!

Later,

Dave