tagged: eight things, plus five more

I spoke to my mom, back in South Dakota, today. They were enjoying the "pleasantly warm" and "comfortable" temperatures. The forecast for our two towns are approximately the same tomorrow: somewhere in the upper-90's. :)

On a seemingly unrelated note, a dear fellow writer, Proverbs 31, tagged me to write a list. It seems that this whole "tagged" business is both a compliment by the "tagger" and a kick-in-the-pants for me to write more. Keep the compliments flowing - I love compliments. I really, really, love compliments. Even sarcastic ones. But I must ask that you all, like my friend Proverbs 31, kick lightly, okay? I've been writing a lot lately - look here! (Yes, honestly, most were just finishing drafts, but still - it counts, right?)

Her list was about her faith, written with honesty and beautiful vulnerability. As I mentioned, however, t's hot here, so my brain is not geared toward writing especially beautiful or vulnerable posts. In honor of the brain-melting temperatures, I'm keeping things light.

So, here are eight reasons I love the hot weather of summer. For all of you rainy, cool-climate loving neighbors of mine, much love and sympathy (somewhere behind my giggles at your complaints!) Come over and we can make ice cream. And don't worry, the clouds will return soon. They always do.

Okay, I'm cheating & doing a Thursday Thirteen rather than just a "Tagged 8" list. If you just wanted eight things, watch for the stop sign.

1. Sprinklers. As much as I hate wasting water, there is something really fun about jumping through the spray of an old-fashioned sprinkler, slowly getting wetter and wetter until your shorts are gripping your thighs as you run. Not pretty, but very fun.

2. Sun screen. I love the smell. Weird? Probably, but it makes me think of making castles on the beach while sand stuck to the Coppertone lotion on my legs and back. I also like writing letters or words on the boys' backs as we put on the sunscreen.

3. Boating. We live on a river (actually, 2), here and there are tons of boats. Unfortunately, we do not have one, but I have fond memories of boating and...

4. Water-skiing. I miss the tug of a ski-rope in my hands, the spray of the wake, the tension and balance of cutting back and forth behind the boat. Water skiing holds a bit of magic in my family; once upon a time, a young guy didn't believe his friend's claim that a girl in town could ski so well she'd start out of the water backwards & barefoot. She could, and she proved it, and he was so impressed he asked her out on a date. A bit later, they married, and then had me... and my brother... and my other brother... and she still water skis today (maybe only a little bit more cautious!) My mom taught us all to ski, while dad drove the boat. She even taught Mr. Kenobi to ski - way back when he was just that cute college "friend" of her daughter's. Someday we will get to go boating again, and MamaToo will show her boys how to water ski!

5. Salads. I love fruit & veggies, and summer brings out the freshest produce. When I was a kid, we had an enormous garden, and I had to help with all of the hard work of planting, weeding, tending, watering, weeding, etc. before harvest. You'd think I would have grown-up to love gardening, but no! I grew up to love shopping at farmers' markets. :)

6. Ice Cream. Good thing I like salads, eh? Ice cream is a staple in the summer... somewhere between dinner and breakfast, Mr. Kenobi & I enjoy a heaping bowl of Breyer's. Believe it or not, I love vanilla best. Chocolate, strawberry, mint chocolate-chip, or coffee are other favorites. (Someday, I must share a funny story about the question of favorite ice cream flavors. It involves my friend Maria and a church visit, but that's the only hint for now.)

7. Sunglasses. It is my little way of feeling like a celebrity. My boys wear theirs inside as much as outside, and it makes me giggle to walk through the grocery aisles as if we're hiding our identities from the paparazzi.

8. Air conditioning. We don't have it in the house, but I sure love the stores that do. Not that I really need an excuse to love shopping...

IF YOU ONLY WANTED TO KNOW EIGHT THINGS, STOP HERE. :)

9. Skirts. True, I could wear them anytime, but there's something about hot days of sumer that makes me want to pull out a favorite linen skirt and tank top and pull my longish (getting longer!) hair up into a ballerina-style bun. And, as long as we're talking what-not-to-wear...

10. Flip-flops. Again, probably could wear these all the time (who am I kidding? I do wear them all the time!), but there is no better thing to keep your tootsies off the hot pavement while strolling around the block.

11. Sitting in my basement and playing with the boys. Our playroom is in our basement. Yes, it is a definitely luxury to have a playroom. And a basement. But normally I feel a little guilty if we hang out down there too long, like I should be getting them outside. In the hot days, however, I'm really happy to just hang out and build train tracks or play instruments (like the drums!) with the kiddos.

12. Cool nights. Just when the house is getting too stuffy to handle any more, evening hits and the temperatures begin to drop. Usually, by the boy's bedtime, we can throw open windows, put fans in front of the screens, and let the night air in. I love that feeling of fresh, whoooshing air breezing through the house.

13. Slowing down. Some people have to keep up their hectic daily pace or work & activity, with no difference between February and July. I know it's a luxury to have the freedom to re-vamp my schedule and just hang out when the weather gets hot. I appreciate it. Hot weather calls for a slower pace, sipping cold water, and deciding that finding the shady spot for a picnic or filling up the kiddie-pool is your highest priority of the day.

Thanks, Proverbs 31, for some good reading & an excuse to write again today. Thanks, too, for all of the Thirteeners out there with lists of your own. Enjoy the heat! And now, since I completely tossed most of the rules, here's one more twist: if you've read this, and think you're up for the challenge, write your own list and link it in my comments. :)