For every country one lives in, summer takes on a different meaning. For most of my life, summers in Texas were characterized by school being out, unbelievably hot days, softball games, the smell of OFF (later to be replaced by the more “natural” versions), fantastic cookouts with friends, outdoor swimming, countless mosquito bites, & last year- many trips to Sea World & the water park.

Now that I am in another country I find myself making new associations with summer. These new associations are no better or worse than the ones experienced in my homeland. They are just different. And living in a country where the one thing you can count on is rain & grey skies, we have been blessed immeasurably so far this year with many days of sunshine, warm temperatures (still cool for Texans) & relatively no rain. So, here is what summer in Wales in 2010 looks like for me.

Summer Is…
Multi-coloured sailboats behind the house glistening in the water

50+ swans (and new baby cignets) congregating for a party in the river

Leaving the back door wide open, not just because you want to get last night’s dinner smell out of the house, but because it is too beautiful not to

Lots of photographs being taken

Those ginormous spiders that have been growing since spring outside all of your windows waiting to catch their prey after it gets dark (at 10pm!)

Feeling the heat in your car on your face when you get in & not even wanting to turn the air on

Summer Is…
Watching your children’s imaginations run wild

Sitting in the car park (parking lot) in front of your house, because you have no yard, with your swimsuit on & just not giving a hoot at how ridiculous you might look to those driving home from work

Seeing the sun shine through your black out blinds way too early in the morning

Barbecues with neighbors where the grill is jammed with steak, sausages, lobster, prawns, & chicken

Summer Is…
Putting musical notes in the air of your drawings

An abundance of British strawberries & wild blackberries

Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin”

Ripped jeans & white fingernail polish

Summer is so, so good.