LOCAL SUMMER

“It’s here.” I sighed as I stood on the boardwalk leaning against the railing looking out at the ocean. I could hear the waves hitting the sandy shoreline and that sound was exactly what I needed. I looked over at my husband Steven who was standing next to me. “Local summer.” I sighed again. “My favorite time to go to the beach.”

Steven laughed as he patted me on the back then sat down on the bench and put his feet up on the railing. “It is nice.” He agreed.

Our son Alex came over to us holding three paper plates stacked on top of each other. Each with a slice of pizza on it. “Here you go.” He said as he handed each of us a plate and then pulled some napkins out of his pocket and passed them around.

“This was a great idea!” I said to him as I sat down next to Steven, picked up my slice and began blowing on it to cool it off.

“Thanks!” Alex said as he sat down next to me.

“You know,” I looked over my shoulder to a few people who were walking the boardwalk. “For such a beautiful day there’s hardly anyone here.”

Alex looked over his shoulder. “Well, it could be that it’s a Tuesday and everyone is still at work.” He took a bite of his pizza.

“Hey, I was at work, too!” I cried before I finally thought my pizza was cool enough to take a bite.

“Yeah, but you got out of work at three-thirty.” Steven reminded me.

I smiled and nodded. “That’s true and that’s a wonderful thing for me at this time of year! It gives me time to do this!” I took another bite.

Seagulls were flying over our heads with several standing around our feet hoping one of us would lower our guard enough so they could snatch some of our dinner from us. “Not today, my friends.” I said to them as I took another bite.

“It’s pretty slim pickings for them right now.” Steven reminded me.

“They’re still not getting any of mine.” I put the slice back on my plate and covered it with a napkin. Leaning back and putting my feet up on the railing I took a deep breath. “It smells so good out here.”

“Your pizza?” Alex asked as a seagull hopped closer to him.

“Well, sure.” I turned to him. “But it’s also the salty smell of the ocean.” I inhaled. “Can’t you smell it?”

Alex nodded his head and laughed. “I think I’m smelling more garlic than ocean.”

I shook my head. “Honestly, just the sound of those waves has a calming effect on me.” I uncovered my pizza slice and took another bite.

Steven leaned forward looking past me to catch Alex’s eye. “Did you hear that?” He asked with a laugh.

Alex looked confused. “Hear what?”

“Your Mom said if we get a sound machine and play the sound of waves she won’t get upset when we leave dirty dishes in the sink and forget to put them in the dishwasher.”

I looked over at Steven and laughed. “Nice try.”

“What can I say?” Steven shrugged his shoulders as he leaned back against the bench. “It was worth a shot.”