Summer Song

This week's Sunday Scribblings prompt is "The End" - It's nearly summer's end, and I'll be away from the computer for a few days, so I'm posting it a bit early:

The beach sand in the hourglass of summer is rapidly running out, and I have yet to sing the praises of summer - oh, I've hummed the whine of the fans, and moaned the heat-induced ennui. But the season deserves its due.

Where other seasons creep in more sedately, summer rushes in when the school doors bang open, as that last bell rings in the hallways. When you hear the whoops and hollers of graduates kicking their heels at pomp and circumstance. With violins, as a honeyed full moon hangs bright in the sky over June brides, blushing like blooming roses.

From the first KeR-SpLaSh!!! of the season - a cannonball into a swimming pool - it builds to the ear-splitting crescendo of Fourth of July fireworks, booming in the sky. It settles down a bit, after that - the hissing sizzle of the night's sparklers, the burgers on the barbeque grill, or the melted roasted marshmallow dripping onto the coals. 

As July marches along, the hot days finally settle into their own rhythm. The whoosh of the cool air conditioning rushing out as you enter the store. Screendoors thunking shut, behind running children. The hum of the fans, whirring tirelessly round. The ker-splashing, swoosh-swoosh of a neighbor swimming laps. Flip-flops that snip-snap down the sidewalk, hurrying before they melt in place. The plinking of tennis rackets; the plunkety plunk doowop of the basketball. The jangling repetition of Turkey In the Straw, blaring out from the loudspeakers of an armada of ice cream trucks, as they troll neighborhood after neighborhood, hunting for children with dollars held in sweaty, eager hands.

Everyone, but especially the kids, seems to be covered in a rainbow of colors - aqua Hawaiian shirts. Lime green shorts. Hot pink sundresses. The kids accessorize with sticky, orange or purple popsicle drips. Splashy, red watermelon juice. Rainbow sherbet. Chocolate ice cream.

Everywhere, the scent of sunscreen and cocoa butter wafts on the faint breeze.

On evening strolls, the crickets have more and more competition in their nightly concerts - as through open windows, stream the sounds of oldies radio here, canned TV laughter there. Cars cruise slowly down the street, a snippet of reggae bouncing out from one window; a rap beat chugging out another. A woman's laugh floats through the air, as a car rounds the corner, perhaps heading towards Lookout Point; where the windows will steam, and the sound slows to whispers and kissing, the soft sliding of silk on leather seats. The night winds down, to the steady whirring of air conditioning, the tinkling of automatic sprinklers kicking on...sleepers restless in the heat, finally doze fitfully - only to be roused from their feverish dreams, by the occasional wild trilling of a mockingbird, that's confused the bright light of the full moon for the rising sun.

The days grow drowsy - even the bees look drunk from the sun, as they buzz, zig-zagging sluggishly from one wilting flower to another. Dragonflies hover over the road - the asphalt shimmers from the heat, creating the mirage of a slow-moving river.

Here and there, a summer storm pops up with a snap, crackle, pop - raindrops big as gum drops splatting down on the dry ground - tempting even the shy and the conservative to run out in the rain, hold out their hands and twirl in a rain dance. Though they may think better of it once out there, and content themselves with looking skyward, albeit with parched tongues practically hanging out to catch a raindrop.

The dog days of August, pant slowly by. More and more houses and offices stand quiet, as those who can, pack their bags and their cars - driving off into the early morning light, for destinations far and wide.  The skeleton crews left behind, look longingly at photos of cruise ships, tropical beaches, or even tents pitched in a KOA camp - even bankers loosen their neckties, and sigh. Come late summer, it seems anywhere is better than where you are - by August, wanderlust is at a contagious fever pitch, with new cases striking every day.

Those left behind, move at a snail's pace. Treading water, they wait for their ship to come in; cooler weather is bound to come some day...isn't it?

Till finally, Labor Day arrives. The last real weekend of summer. Dull eyes, suddenly grow bright and eager, as they snap out of the summer doldrums. Last chance for everything that we meant to do all summer, and didn't! Hit the road. Pitch a tent. Go to a beach. Picnic. Barbeque. Swim. Who's playing at the club? What's on at the movies? Let's do something! Anything - don't just sit there! It's summer's last chance to play!

After Labor Day, no matter what the calendar says, it's summer's end, it's over in all but name. Summer goes out as it came in - with the first ringing of school bells, and the bang of the school doors, as we wait for the first leaves to fall.

Have a good weekend, everyone. See you in September - some September morn...

For other endings, visit this week's Sunday Scribblings.

p.s. Happy Birthday, Kai~xo 

Comments

[Pacian]

Yeah... summer works a bit differently where I am. :-P

[kai]

THankyou Tink!!!! Love the little mermaid on the Bottle..and the lovely words for my birthday!!
I left you a Blue Hawaiian on my bloggie blog!! XXXX
PEace, Kai xx

[gemma]

Oh I love your words Tinker all of them
"Screendoors thunking shut" and your art
is so cool. How'd you do that????
Have a wonderful holiday.
xx

Thanks, Gemma - I e-mailed you the details on the old fashioned scribble, cut and paste how-to's - if anyone else wants to know, just ask in the comments. xo~Tink

[bella]

I wish I could bottle these words up and enjoy them when it's cold and blue outside.
This is definitely a cut and paste kind of entry. Thanks for sharing your take on summer. I loved it.

[Angela]

Wonderful post! I can almost feel the waves! It's so relaxing! :) *HUGS*

[Regina Clare Jane]

Oh, this was just lovely! So descriptive of what summer is all about! And you really got me with that little bit about the toasted marshmallows- I haven't had those in a LONG time...
Happy a good holiday weekend, too!

[Tammy]

Look at you girlfriend! That was a luscious summer prose that you need to re-post in January. :) Bravo!!!

HUGS

[tammy vitale]

mmmmm. Writing to sink into and luxuriate in....but my summer isn't over until I end my vacation the last week - off to OBX! love that place! and maybe Ocracoke won't be wall to wall people like it was on July4 (they were just voted the #1 beach in the nation - the shop owner I work with is ready to crawl on back down to 25 or so...too many people on such a small island!).

[inlandempiregirl]

The narratie way you moved us through summer was very effective. It was like reliving it one more time. I think many of us can relate to the same ebbs and flows. I am with you Tinker... the day after Labor Day is when fall begins. When I see that first new backpack and hear the first hello from a student I will say good-bye to summer.

[gautami]

Such vivid images! It made me want more!

[Stacy]

Wonderful descriptions.

Thanks!

[Crafty Green Poet]

The photos and the first sentence are just wonderful ...

[Pam Aries]

Summer...you certainly summed it up! For some of us..Summer is sumptuous...I think everyone knows how I feel about summer! heh heh!

[patois]

The best ode to summer I've ever read. Delightful. You've hit on so many parts. Bravo!

[AscenderRisesAbove]

yes; you are right - the end of summer. (though I am secretly doing a rain dance as we speak)

[artzyjudie]

Great post Tink!!!

[Gillian @ Indigo Blue]

Tink
You write so well, I almost wish summer would begin again! I eagerly anticipated fall, until reading this today. Beautiful!
xo
Blue

[hope]

Now I'm depressed. I miss summer already! Such vivid images.

[Kara]

Tinker you have now made me sad to see summer go.....but I do love to reading your tribute so that makes it a bittersweet experience. Just like chocolate easy to swallow.

[Laini]

What a wonderful evocation of summer, Tinker! You've nailed it. In the past few years I've felt like I've been rushed through summer and haven't gotten to enjoy it the way I did as a kid -- and when you're a kid you think they'll ALWAYS be like that, spending all day at the beach, always having sand in your hair, doing nothing with particular enthusiasm. Sigh. I want one of those summers again! A Spanish proverb:

"How wonderful it is to do nothing and then rest afterward."

Yeah!

[violetismycolor]

I am sad that I will soon have to say goodbye to summer.

[Paris Parfait]

Such a great account of the season! And the images are a wonderful accompaniment - thank you! Happy fall! xo