by Richard
Hey, guess what? Today is the second day of summer.
Despite the fact that temperatures have been hovering in the mid- to high 90s (F, not C) for the past month or so, it’s only just now (well, yesterday) that we can say it’s official.
I count myself very lucky to actually be on vacation, actually on a beach, here in the first few days of summer. These are the days when, as a young dude myself, I used to just take a few minutes and plan out exactly the sort of fun I was going to have all summer long.
Because, let’s face it, when you’re a young enough dude, summer lasts forever. I never thought about summer’s end. As soon as school let out, it was time for the eternal now. The days were long. The nights were warm and it was time to get out there and start sweating up a good time.
That starts to change, though, as we age. Getting jobs where you don’t actually get to have a couple of months off during the summer to recharge and enjoy yourself. Yeah, those job things certainly do take something away from enjoying summer. Not much fun to head out into the blazing heat, 90 degrees and 90 percent humidity, wearing a tie, jacket, button-down shirt and a deeply held hope that your deodorant actually will hold out long enough.
Summer.
This summer, though, I’m actually on the beach, enjoying the waves and being extremely glad there’s actual effective sunblock you can wear outside and not worry about turning into a scalded, super-sensitive red beast of a dude. Believe me, in my youth, many were the days I would overstay my welcome in the sun and have to limp around the house, my skin feeling stretched taut enough to break with a wrong move.
Even if you’re working today or tomorrow, think about Rule No. 32. Enjoy the little things. Get home. Get out of the work clothes and into something relaxing. Head outside. Even if it’s only for a few minutes. Run your toes through the grass. Let nature fill you up.
It’s summer, dudes. Take advantage while you can.
