My Own Kind of Paradise

Wishing I was knee deep in the water somewhere

Got the blue sky breeze and it don't seem fair

Only worry in the world is the tide gonna reach my chair

Sunrise there's a fire in the sky

Never been so happy

Never felt so high

And I think I might have found me my own kind of paradise

The country music genre always takes the opportunity to capture the nostalgia that summer brings.The tides of the waves, barefoot in the sand or green grass and the ever present late-night truck drives, are picturesque of the South during the summer months. The summer months have always provided me with the best memories growing up.

The summer meant vacations and weekends(and weekdays) on the beach, which really meant going at exactly the best time as to not have to deal with hundreds of tourists. It meant that I'd have 2 1/2 months of uninterrupted time that did not revolve around AP classes,SAT/ACT prep, or any other school responsibilities. It meant time with friends, and late evening walks to the park to play tennis, or going to see movies at the outdoor shopping center. It meant late night sleepovers watching movies and lighting sparklers or making bonfires. It meant playing basketball at 1 a.m. and accidentally hitting someone's house and hoping you didn't wake anyone up. 

Summer meant walking in the illuminated lights of  downtown at dusk while listening to the cover bands play Lynard Skynard. It meant sitting outside on the deck of the local seafood restaurants with the back of my legs stuck to the plastic chairs during the heat of the day.It meant guzzling sweet tea or lemonade after helping my mama and grandma in the backyard. It meant late night trips to cookout with my friends past curfew.  

The summer meant family cookouts listening to the oldies and eating hamburgers.It meant going away parties and welcome home celebrations. It meant vacations to Bush Gardens in Virginia or Myrtle Beach.It meant overnight summer camps learning government policies,an immersive week playing classical music, or practicing drama productions. The summer meant 4th of July fireworks near the old battleship on the riverfront. It meant endless drives with my mama to the beach, driving around just because. 

Summertime meant countless trips to the local mall and spending hours simply window shopping and people watching.Summer meant flower blossoms and tall grass. It meant lot's of turbulent  weather but also lot's of sunshine. 

Summer meant crickets chirping and the noises of the frogs after a storm. It meant cloudless blue skies and burning concrete driveways. It meant early evening patio lounging with the umbrella up. It meant drive thru car washes to remove the pollen. It meant Coldstone ice cream melting off the cone before you even got a taste.

Soon,it meant mid-August school clothes shopping.It meant a new bookbag, converse sneakers and printed notebooks.It meant one more for old times sake. It meant saying goodbye to  friends as they started a new chapter. It meant storing away the summer memories and preparing for the new year to come. 

Summer was the season for new beginnings and adventures. It was a time for spontaneous activities and impulsive behavior. Between the months of June and late August, anything was conquerable.

This upcoming summer is my last summer to really take part in my youth before internships and entry-level work start to become the norm. This summer I vow to go back to my Southern roots and stick my feet in the ocean and listen to the squawking of the seagulls. I vow to play basketball at 1 a.m. with my friends and drive to the mountains to conquer that hike that once seemed unimaginable. I vow to not let the time pass me bye, to grab every second and every minute and make it count for something. I vow to go on those late night drives to the Bo's supermarket and have those bonfires on the beach. I vow to kayak and paddleboard as much as my heart desires. I vow to spend as much  time with friends and family. I vow to accept every challenge and light every sparkler. Though I'll only have 5 weeks of summer before I have to pack up and leave to work at camp, I vow to not forget the precious time of summer. I vow to hold on to the new memories and remember the old. I vow to stress less,live more,complain less,accomplish more.I vow to relive the summer of my glory days.