It’s finally that time of the year. My favorite season. When the air is sticky but sweet, the days seem eternal and my hands constantly smell of sunscreen.

Last night while hanging out with friends in our backyard, that some call Wingra Park, the barefoot kids were busy chasing fire flies through the thick grass. I looked at my friend and just smiled. “Is there a better sound on earth that that?” I asked as the kids screamed and laughed while the lightening bug escaped it’s captor.

This morning I took Ben to the bus stop for camp. The first day of camp. Granted I work all summer but through Ben I get to live vicariously. Reason 2,342 I love being a mom. A part of me is on that school bus with him, headed off to good ol Camp Shalom.
This morning the sidewalk was filled with wiggly, excited campers and their parents struggling to get them to hold still long enough for their morning sunscreen and bug spray applications.
An elderly man walked by all the chaos, looked at me and asked, “What is this all about?” I replied “Oh, we are waiting for the bus to take them all to camp.”
“To the Heart camp?” he asked? I looked at him confused so he continued, “To the Sacred Heart camp…” I chucked as I always find the irony funny that our bus stop for Camp Shalom is in front of Blessed Sacrament church and school.  I finally replied, “Nope. This is for Camp Shalom!” The look on his face was priceless.

After work I greeted my very tired, very hot, mildly cranky camper with open arms. And then proceeded to nuzzle my nose into his neck. He is the smell of summer. Chlorine, Coppertone and Off. A heavenly combination.

Sigh… summer.