Summer breeze makes me feel fine…
Blowing through the jasmine in my mind…

The first two lines of the chorus from, “Summer Breeze,” by the Isley Brothers is my favorite summer song, though some of you may prefer the version by Seals and Croft. Regardless of the version, the song symbolizes the beauty of summer, the time of year where everything seems to move a little slower to allow us to enjoy the beauty of the season. I sooo love this time of year where we all take the time to slow down a bit and really enjoy all mother nature offers us.

Summer is the time we shed layers. We are shedding the excess pounds from dieting and exercising, to fit into the lighter, flimsy clothes that are representative of a season where less is the key to surviving the heat! We are casting aside the heavy meals of stews, soups and casseroles for the lighter healthier meals that will keep us energized to take advantage of all the fun activities we will partake in: swimming, tennis, bike riding, golf, etc.

Summer is the time we look forward to spending quality time with the grandchildren. We will, of course, spoil them and take them to the park, beaches, amusement parks, movies and festivals. Some of us will also include them in some of the more exotic vacation plans of cruises, trips to foreign countries, or perhaps they will encourage you to try something different like skydiving, kitting or bungee jumping….

The intoxicating smell of jasmine encourages us to linger a little longer on the porch to chat with our neighbors. Summer promotes more socializing with our friends and neighbors at impromptu cookouts, with our spouses and significant others at summer concerts in the parks or amphitheaters, and with our fellow Glam-Mothers for a girls night out on the town. We can all count on attending at least one family reunion during this glorious season, with a guarantee of a good time catching up with aunties, uncles, cousins and new additions to the family.

For those of us who prefer a slower pace to enjoy the season, lying back with a cool glass of lemonade or sweet iced tea, under a great oak tree is the perfect time to enjoy the next bestseller. We can certainly count on our favorite authors: Jean Auel, David Baldacci, Michael Connelly, John Grisham, and Nora Roberts to keep us entertained. Finally, taking a leisurely stroll through the park, a botanical garden or through your city enjoying the sights, sounds and smells can be just as entertaining. Please do not waste the summer breeze or the smell of jasmine.

Tell me how do you plan to spend the summer?