Is It Summer Yet?

[Bobby Bass]

Is it summer yet? I don't even want to wait for spring, I want to wake up and have summer here. I want to hear the chirping of birds through the open window and sun light coming through at five in the morning. I don't want to have to search for my slippers because the floor is cold underfoot. I don't want to hear the sound of the furnace fan blowing. I want to see a cold fireplace but feel warm in my boxer shorts. Instead of grabbing hot coffee I want to grab some ice cold lemonade and hear the cubes clink in the glass as I and walk out on to a snow free deck in my bare feet. I want to see the old goose strutting on the end of the dock and hear the sound of Buds claws as he runs across the deck heading for the yard and the goose. I want to walk down to the dock and feel damp grass between my toes. To get chewed out by one of the gray squirrels and to see a bunny frozen behind the flag pole. Acting like a lawn ornament the rabbit thinking that a skinny pole actually hides all of him or her behind it.

I want to look into ice free water at green lily pads bobbing, the flowers open and a water bug running across the surface. I want to see the tell tale little rings of blue gills slurping bugs off the surface. The vee wake of a muskrat on the surface. Hear the splash of a bass deep back in the reeds. The sound that comes across the water when an oar hits the side of an aluminum boat. Crows flying out from the roost overhead to where ever it is they go at five in the morning. Yup, I am ready for summer. Winter has had its time, bring on summer. Bring on bonfires and marsh mellows. Bring on lady bugs and lightning bugs and bats in the twilight. The lonely call of a loon echoing in the night. Fish fries and kids making bubbles. Rain and the smells that come with it. Burger baskets and onion rings hanging on trays on the sides of pickups. Fresh cut grass and a fawn running behind its mother. Pontoon boats making lazy circles around the bay. The quiet of a jet ski running out of gas.

Summer, gardens and dragon flies. Dusty roads and high school car washes. Tug of wars between robins and night crawlers. Sitting on the end of the dock with your feet in the water and not a care in the world. Baseball and hot dogs. The ten o'clock freight train making it way around the far side of the lake. Vacation.. Red and white bobbers slowing going out of sight beneath the water. Eagles soaring over head, puppies running on new grass chasing butterflies. Ice cream cones dripping, potato salad eating and watermelon seed spitting. Bees buzzing and humming birds hovering. Naps on hammocks and just plain doing nothing. Yes, I am ready for Summer!