Enjoy summers when you can
By Staff
Jonathan Willis
Summer time is officially here now, but for some reason, as you get older it just doesn't mean the same as when you are young.
For school children, summer is something you look forward to for months because it means classes are over.
For teens and college-age kids it means summer jobs, but there is still plenty of time for the fun stuff like hitting the lake or whatever else they want to do.
But once it comes time to enter the workforce summer just means that it's a little hotter each time you walk to the car or make the 12th trip to Wal-Mart that week.
I know there are days when I am at work but each time I look outside I just think, "man, I wish I was playing golf or doing something else."
It just doesn't work that way.
I can remember the days when I would stay up late every night just because I knew I didn't have to get up early for school the next day.
Whenever I did decide to finally get out of the bed, we would ride bikes or play baseball or basketball all day long. We lived in Hester Heights subdivision when I was growing up and there was always several kids my age around to get up a big ball game.
That went on all year long, but especially in the summer. The days would stretch into late evening as we played all kinds of games.
When the weather would finally get so hot that we couldn't stand it anymore, we would get the Super Soakers and water balloons out and just keep on going.
When high school rolled around and I started driving, the summer days were time to go to work. I stacked sod and potted plants at Triple B Nursery in Newburg for three years.
That was definitely no easy job, but it was fun because I was working with a couple of friends. We always found a way to keep ourselves entertained and if we couldn't do it, then Mr. Jewel Britnell would find a way.
Summers seemed to last no time back then. They were gone in the blink of an eye.
Now, I just look for any free chance I can to get out and enjoy the time while we can. My little boy, Ty, is only 14 months old but he would stay outside forever if he could.
Before I know it, he will be gathering up friends for all-day ballgames in the summer sun, or, as bad as I hate to think about it, he will be out looking for a summer job.
I sure hope he takes advantage of those carefree summers while he can.
