Wednesday, May 28, 2008

The onset of summer

Change of season usually also brings about some sort of change in people. A person may feel determined in autumn to start the school year responsibly and organized. Winter may carry with it a peaceful air, where you can feel as free as the white snow that is both blank and rich, or you can cozy up inside with friends, hot chocolate, and a good movie. Spring gives the flavor of frivolity and exhilaration in the blooming world and all its adventures and possibilities.

Summer, on the other hand...summer for me is the starkest contrast of all - it brings about the biggest, most jolting change. Summer is when friends go home. Summer is when no one seems to be around. Summer is when you sometimes have to get a job doing something so completely and utterly mindless you can feel your wasted brain cells choking. Summer is a time for self-reflection, but you have so much time for it that you end up wallowing.

On the other hand, there are some people around - it's just harder to stay in touch and it takes more effort to get together. Summer is when you can catch up on your reading...catch up on your writing...learn how to get over hating ellipses...

I suppose it's about a balance. But it's harder in the summer. There isn't constant action to distract you. You're alone a lot more often than you are during the school year. It's like a switch that was on all year has suddenly, unexpectedly been turned off. Your entire comfort zone melts away. The big bubble of fun that surrounds you all year pops. You're left with only a little bit and that has to last you all summer long! And that summer can be like an uncharted map - three whole months of nothingness. Anything could happen. Nothing could happen. There's no way of knowing. It's like Alice falling down the rabbit hole and having no idea when she'll land or where or what'll happen afterwards or how she'll get back.

I think summer is the most frightening season.

3 comments:

Northern Light said...

Erachet! Puh-leeeeeze! What a wonderful luxury it is to HAVE a summer! Intense fragrances, long, lingering afternoons, juicy summer fruits...mmmmm!! SUMMER is a bubble of fun! Doesn't seem frightening at ALL to me!

the apple said...

Okay, I'm gonna be a little harsh in this comment, and say that I totally agree with Northern Light - it's really not nearly as bad as you think. So many people would give anything to have three months of vacation! Don't spend your time bemoaning the fact that you don't have a million friends surrounding you - we're all in the same boat. You can make it work.

Erachet said...

I dunno, sometimes it feels like school is more of a vacation than summer. I suppose it depends what you want vacation from, you know?

Now I have secret, hidden text like on SerandEz!