On Summer

Beaches, forests, backyards; deer souvlaki.

This summer, I want to spend more time on the beach. I want to watch Kiddo and the Warthog jump over waves, watch the Monkey cover himself in sand. I want to take a walk with Mrs. CWD, look for sharks’ teeth and sea glass and interesting shells. I want to spear a tog, catch a lobster, ride a wave, cast a line. I want to get hot, get wet, get sandy, cool down, dry off, do it again. I want to smell the salt air with the windows down and feel my back sticking to the seat, watch the sun set over the wine-dark sea.

This summer, I want to spend more time in the woods. I want to hike trails, watch red-brown deer in velvet, listen to birds, avoid poison ivy. I want to climb to high peaks and low peaks, with Doggie and the kids and Mrs. CWD, with Grandfather, and Nana (once, maybe!), with cousins and brothers and friends and all that in between. I want to wear my “cool” sandals, get laughed at, go barefoot, stub a toe, build a callus, step on a bee, soak my feet in some cold, clear water. I wan…