there was a time...

when I was able to read a novel a week for 2 months straight....

when I sunbathed 3-4 times a week and my skin turned a lovely golden brown...

when I would forget what day it was...

when I thought nothing of having a cocktail in the middle of the day...

when I could get up and decide to drive to see my parents or go to the zoo or float the river at any given moment...

when I could have friends over and stay up late enjoying a bottle (or two...) of wine...

when I got paid 12 months a year but only "worked" 10...

Ahhhhhh.......summer. When you're young, you survive each year of school with the promise of summer vacation. And then you go to college and may take summer school, but still get to partake in the loveliness of everything that is summer. And then you become a teacher and appreciate summer more than you EVER did as a child. (I now firmly believe that summer vacation is for the adults to regain their sanity - it just happens to also be a perk for the kids.)

Then you take a full-year job (230 days versus 187 days) in education and all of a sudden it is July and you realize that your skin is glowing white and you haven't read a book for pleasure in months and why is it so hot outside?!?!

I love my job. I am fortunate to be able to say that, I know. But oh, how I miss summer.