“Nobody on the road / Nobody on the beach / I feel it in the air / The summer’s out of reach / Empty lake, empty streets”

Boys of Summer, Don Henley

73 summers have come and gone. How many summers do I have left?

Summer inspires so many remembrances of lost family and friends who shared picnics, swimming, birthday parties and vacations. Though summer fades, my love and gratitude for the joy shared in those moments never do.

Life is what is measured between summers.

The gentle sound of ocean waves softly lapping against the shore calms my heart and soothes my soul.

As summer fades, I find myself yearning for the waning light, the warmth it brings, and the endless possibilities it once promised.

Oh, if only I could capture the memories of my youth—riding a rickety boardwalk roller coaster, savoring the sticky sweetness of cotton candy, stealing glances and shy smiles on the boardwalk, and diving for a spike in a game of beach volleyball.

Summer inspires the beginning of so many love stories. There is no better season to be in love.

I am a child of summer, born under the sun’s warm embrace, comforted by soft breezes that once swayed the curtains as I napped in peaceful contentment.