Trends

This is becoming an annoying trend.

There’s been one day, the past few summers, that the air suddenly cools, the air conditioning can be turned off, and the breeze in the morning smells like fall.  Today was that day.

And, naturally, I started missing the autumn.  I started looking at Halloween pictures on Pinterest.  I almost watched some Halloween cooking shows, but I held back.  I thought to myself, I’m done with summer.  I’ve gotten a sunburn and, subsequently, a tan.  I’ve been to the pool.  I’ve grilled a burger.  I’m ready to move on.

Nothing wrong with that.  We all have our favorite things that we look forward to all year long.

But then I stopped.  And gave it a little more thought.

Time will pass, no matter how much we wish it would or wouldn’t.  Summer will end, autumn will arrive, Christmas will light up the world and summer will be here again before you know it.  What if, instead of wishing our lives away for something else, we stopped and looked around.  What if we appreciate the time we’re living in now, soak in the hot air and shimmering pool water and smell of the air conditioning and taste of fresh watermelon and cantaloupe and tomatoes.  Enjoy how the light hangs around until 9pm and twilight brings the lightening bugs and the crickets and a respite from the humid afternoon.

Change will come, sure as the seasons and twice as quick…isn’t it better to be happy where you are instead of spending all your time wishing you were somewhere else?

I think so.

Love Wins

No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family.  In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than they once were.  As some of the petitioners in these cases demonstrate, marriage embodies a love that may endure even past death.  It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage.  Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves.  Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions.  They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law.  The Constitution grants them that right.

The judgement of the Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit is reversed.

It is so ordered.

It is a happy day, indeed.

Summer, Summer

Though the temperature has passed beyond 90 for several weeks now, today is (officially) the second day of summer.  I should have written yesterday, I know, but life gets in the way.  Besides, EVERYONE writes their summer blogs on the 21st.  It’s fun to be different!

This week has plans to act like a week in late July – humidity sky high, temperatures 95+.  Luckily, in addition to an air conditioning that works like a charm, there is a pool in Piedmont Park that gives me all kinds of relief.  Bonus points if there are baby ducks and a turtle or 2 on the lake.  Bonus bonus points if there is frozen yogurt afterward.

Summer is magical, especially southern summers.  But, in true Laura fashion, I’m already looking forward to fall.  I’m a mess, y’all, but it’s a beautiful one.

Sweet Pea and Magnolias

Summer has arrived again, hot and sticky with the occasional cool breeze.  It’s good to feel the warm sun and walk around the house with the air conditioning turned down low and my summer shorts on, my swimsuit ready for action and the faint smell of sunscreen hanging about the house.

With summer comes my birthday; I consider it the unofficial beginning of the summer season.  And every year, my mom and I have lunch at the Swan Coach House, a historic home in old Buckhead.  It’s the epitome of Southern history and culture, and that coupled with the magnolia trees blossoming makes me want to do all sorts of southern things.  So this year, I am.

Currently, there is fruit cobbler cooling on the stovetop.  To Kill a Mockingbird is waiting on my nightstand.  And Steel Magnolias is playing on my television.  Tomorrow, Nanna is making fried chicken and cutting up some fresh summer fruit; I bought Walden a plastic pool and we’re going to spend some time in the sunshine.  And the next few days will be peppered with southern movies, books, and other paraphernalia.

I’m off…the cobbler is cooled enough, I think, and it’s time to slice this bit of summer.