how do i know its summer?

dark doesn't come until after 8:30
baseball is on every night
flip flops and sun hats
the desire to shower at least twice a day
ponytails
that annual desire to chop off my hair
too hot to knit with wool (but i do it anyway, and then my hands start to sweat, which makes the wool even harder to work with, and then i get frustrated ... its a vicious cycle)
bugs
the shade of trees full with leaves and flowers
too much ice cream
the sun is up before i am
shorts and tank tops and sundresses
that perpetual smell of sunblock
birthday parties
wedding planning (third summer in a row)
sunburns and new freckles
blockbuster movies
the all-night buzz of the fan
cheesy chick lit that keeps me up late at night

though the days are long and hot, i find i truly enjoy summer and its "lazy" days, which i believe are called lazy because we're all too hot to exert much energy, which is why movies and books and ice cream and flip flops are such a summer staple. the first day of summer is just two days from now (though the weather would say its already here). enjoy!